Decorating Dining Tables Using Placemats

Where in the world did the idea for placemats originate? Some say they started in China and were made of wood or bamboo reeds. Others think they were simply fabric versions of a table cloth, but easier to launder. Perhaps it started with the cave woman, who used a giant leaf or slab of stone to differentiate one meal setting from another. In any case, it's fairly obvious that placemats rose to the informal dining occasion because they saved the hostess time, protected the family table, and offered an exclusive setting for one.

Like every other simplistic invention, placemats evolved into every type and manifestation imaginable and are now become the chameleons of the dining experience.

Once relegated to the plastic variety and displayed in neon colors that could be wiped clean with the swipe of a dishrag, the somewhat unappreciated placemat is now available in the finest fabrics and features sophisticated colors that reflect high style for upscale decorating.

Combining Elegance and Function
Many mats used for table decorating are still of the wipe-clean variety but are referred to as "laminated and cork-backed for heavy-duty use and easy care", and yes, they are useful, beautiful, and designed to last for years. Maintaining elegance and functionality are the hallmarks of the versatile placemat and modern technology has encouraged its perfection. Many are even made slightly wider than others to easily accommodate silverware.

In fact, for everyday use, the tablecloth has become a thing of the past. And vinyl tabletops went the way of the horse and buggy years ago.

History at Hand
Now depicting some of the richest images of the past, the mats using historical reference and replication can add special interest to a table like no other accessory. The placemat reigns king of the table today and you'll find it in the classiest homes.

Take the Naseau Vine Placemat for exquisite table decorating. Europeans and American colonists in the so-called "age of exploration" had an avid interest in things foreign and exotic. The Nasseau Vine is an accurate representation of a beautiful black and white tracery vine pattern inspired by an 18th century French gown crafted of hand-painted silk and now featured in the colonial Williamsburg collection.

Then there's the elegant Lightfoot House Placemats. Their design was adapted from hand-painted wallpaper depicting peonies and mums, birds in flight and hanging baskets. The blue and white pattern was popular in Europe and America in the 18th century and the original wallpaper is in the collections of the colonial Williamsburg Foundation.

The Furber Fruit Placemat is another elegant style, based on an interpretation of 18th century prints in the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation collection. Robert Furber, an English nurseryman, published Twelve Months of Fruits in 1732 and from his paintings of gloriously beautiful images, there are now vibrant representations accurately portrayed in a set of placemats.

Cloth over Vinyl
If your tastes run to high-style yet easy-care fabrics, The Magnolia Placemats Napkins set are stunning scalloped edged, quilted beauties, showcasing "the flower of the south" in rich color and design. Sage green is the perfect background for the grand white magnolia with its dark green foliage. These placemats are enhanced by matching napkins and magnolia napkin rings. Their easy-care feature is that they are 100% cotton and machine washable. They are also reversible to a striped pattern, so will serve double-duty before hitting the washing machine.

The Elements of Choice
There are table placemats to commemorate every season including holiday placemats and those to suit every occasion, every taste, hobby, avocation, or need. Paper placemats for children to play games on, kitchen mats, collectibles, placemats with political messages, cartoons and comic strip heroes, exquisite representations of the hunt, horses, and the elegance of the chase. There are round, rectangular, straw and wheat grass table mats; floral, stripe, paisley, leaf, map and beach themed mats, and vinyl placemats in all the colors of the rainbow.

Hats Off to Modern Dining
There is still a time and a place for the crisp tablecloth, sterling silver cutlery and exquisite crystal for the extra special occasions in our lives. But for most other times, the placemat allows us to change our minds with our moods, is truly the chameleon of the dining room experience and remains one of the most versatile and adaptable additions to our lives. So, it matters not the origins of the homely placemat. It has evolved into the ultimate tool in table decorating and deserves our hats off as we sit down with family and friends to dine at leisure and to share our meals in caveman style with a modern twist.

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Making the Right Decision When Decorating the Bedroom

When we are decorating the bedroom it is very necessary that we plan the designs methodically. Sometimes impulsive buying may lead us into unpleasant looking bedroom or even costly bedroom furniture. We should never just buy any bedroom furnishings because it simply looks great. There are many things that we should know before we purchase and design the bedroom. Here are some of the factors that we have to consider when we are making a decision:

1. Paint
We shouldn't paint our bedroom walls with a color that other members of the family like for us. What would matter is what color that will make our eyes feel comfortable. Typically, neutral color is what many people choose to have in their bedroom. It is the safest color that we can choose if we cannot decide for our bedroom wall. Light or pastel color is also preferred by many others due to its relaxing appearance.

2. Bed
When choosing the bed, we should choose whether it is made of iron or wood. We should also consider the style, quality and price. Researching and planning would be the best possible way to save money. Buying a bed would be a bit costly that is why it needs intensive planning. A perfect example of a great bed due to its quality and style is the Butler Specialty Furniture.

3. Curtains
Though curtains are sometimes left ignored, we should still have time to decorate our bedroom window with this. Curtains are nice accents and it could add beauty in the bedroom. Ideally, we should have a curtain that matches our comforters and bed sheets.

4. Dressers And Chest
Choosing a good chest and dresser is not a hard task to do. There are many great styles and forms that would definitely fit with our preferences. One thing that we should remember is that we should match these two with the rest of the bedroom furniture regarding its color and style.

5. Appliances
Some people prefer to have an entertainment system at the bedroom for extra fun and entertainment. We should bear in mind that these add-ons are great but it can be a main cause for an untidy looking bedroom. We have to keep in mind that we should prioritize the bedroom furniture first than other appliances.

Visualizing is one of the best ways that we can do when we plan the design of our bedroom. It is completely one of the most effectual and cheapest ways to design and decorate our bedroom.

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Decorating Your Kitchen With A 1940's Retro Theme

These days kitchen décor comes in all colors, sizes and eras. One fun way to decorate your kitchen is with a bit of 1940's nostalgia. Painted cabinets, glass knobs, and vintage linens combined with new appliances that have a retro look can give you a unique and functional kitchen.

You can get a great 1940's look without spending a bundle and still be able to fill your kitchen with some nice collectibles. Here's some ideas on how you can get a 1940's look in your kitchen.

Colors

Some popular colors from this era include jadeite and a red and white theme. You can find plenty of vintage accents to fill your kitchen for either one of these color schemes. Why not start a collection of jadeite that you can display in open cabinets as well as use for dishware? You can jazz the place up with vintage wooden handle gadgets that are painted jadite and cream. If you are going for the red and white theme, there are plenty of red vintage kitchen ware gadgets out there and vintage linens can really perk up the place. Another advantage of the red and white theme is you can also add in a fruit theme on top of it like apples or strawberries.

I would leave the walls a neutral color - white of off white so that it does not detract from all
your great accessories. Linoleum flooring in a checkerboard pattern would be perfect.
Some color coordinated throw rugs can add a bit of color to the floor and pull it all together.

Lighting

Simple lighting is best. You can buy vintage ceiling lights and wall sconces if you want a
really authentic look. Of course you'll want to make sure you have enough task
lighting so some modern lights will have to be worked in. I suggest you make them as subtle as possible so they don't look out of place.

Window Treatments

Use vintage curtains for your windows. You can buy them with complimentary colors and great patterns.
If you can't find curtains make some out of vintage dish towels or tablecloths - you can buy tablecloths that have stains in 1 area pretty cheaply and then just use the good area for the curtains! If you are going with a red and white 1940's kitchen decorating theme, you might want to pick either cherries or apples as a secondary theme and look for curtains with those fruits in the motif.

Furniture

Glass knobs will really jazz up your furniture and cabinets and add an authentic vintage look. If you have painted cabinets in either white or cream, try the green glass knobs. Your table and chairs should either be a chrome vintage style dinette (you can buy these new and you can still get vintage ones as well), or a vintage wooden style table with enamel top. If you can't find either of these, you can buy any type table and hide it with a vintage tablecloth.

Accessories

Accessories for 1940's style kitchens can be found in antique malls as well as bought brand new.
Soften up the room by hanging vintage tablecloths and tea towels around. Chrome appliances go well with this look as do the retro style appliances you can buy brand new these days. And don't forget the vintage
breadbox and canisters - every kitchen had them on the counter and you can choose from chrome
or enamel in cream and green, or red and white to complete your look.

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Decorating For a Birthday Party With Mini Lights

You're planning another birthday party. You've been to the party stores and the department stores for paper decorations. The cake is ordered and the invitations have been sent. However, something is missing. The paper decorations alone just don't seem to be enough. Why not bring a fun, festive and unique flair to your birthday party by decorating with mini Christmas lights? These easy to install light sets are the perfect addition to any party decor.

Decorating for birthday parties doesn't have to be typical or boring any longer. Use your imagination to utilize Christmas lights in every way possible for your next birthday party. Here are a few ideas for incorporating mini lights into your birthday party decorations.

Does your daughter love to dress up and pretend she is a princess? Throw her a princess birthday party. Decorate the doorways with pink and white tulle. Then, intertwine pink mini lights around the tulle to outline the doorway. Continue the theme into the party room. Use the same idea to decorate the front of the buffet table and cake table. The gift table would look beautiful with pink and clear sets swagged around it against a pink tablecloth. Drape pink mini lights from the ceiling of the party room to add more color. Or, it would be simple to alternate crepe paper and mini lights across the ceiling.

Boys love pirates! Purchase or make a large treasure chest. Decorate it with orange or clear mini lights. Fill it with fake gems and treasures. Perhaps include the game prizes in here too. Are you really creative? Make a cardboard pirate ship in the front yard and deck it out with clear mini lights. This would be especially fantastic for an evening birthday party!

For a fiesta themed birthday party, decorate with our multi colored lights. Birthday parties for younger children aren't the same without a pinata. Create a circle on the ceiling with festive colored lights like red, yellow and teal lights and then hang the pinata right in the middle of the circle.

Hang a curtain of multi color lights in the doorway where the children walk into the party room. Place a few blow-up cactus plants around the party room and use either multi or clear sets to wrap the cactus and pool some lights at the bottom of the pot. (Green also works great for this!)

A Sweet 16 birthday party isn't complete without pink and purple mini lights decorating the doorways, windows, food table, and even the sidewalks leading into your home or into the party room. Create the number "16″ on a wall with a couple of sets. Perhaps put pictures of the teen growing up in and around the lit up number.

Decorating for birthday parties for people turning 40, 50 and older sometimes seem to always focus on black items. Why not approach those milestone birthdays a bit differently? Instead of "grieving" the birthday age, celebrate it! Use multi color mini lights or several individual strands of colored mini lights to decorate the party room.

Perhaps you've chosen antiques for your party theme. If your party area is large enough, bring in antique props, like red wagons and wooden wheelbarrows. The red wagons would look fantastic outlined or draped with red or clear twinkle lights. The wooden wheelbarrows would be so pretty decorated with clear lights. Use old-fashioned lamps on the food and dinner tables. Surround each one with battery operated mini lights for a beautiful effect.

Decorating for birthday parties with mini lights is a great way to create a party atmosphere that is a step above the others!

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Decorating a Rented Home the Smart Way

Here are a few suggestions to be able to transform your humble rented home into an astounding interior designed masterpiece that will reflect your personality.

When it comes to financial issues, there will be some people, who cannot afford to buy a home,  while other simply do not want to have the headaches of owning a home. There are also others that have life circumstances that make having an apartment a lot more feasible. Whatever the reason may be, if you really are renting and you cannot tolerate anymore the bland decorating schemes in your home then do not worry, leave your false conception of not being able to personalize your rented home to be more suited to your needs and taste.

But before you go jumping up and down and dash out of your home to spend lots and lots on paints, and carpets, you will need to take a look on your lease and check if you are allowed to personalize your living quarters. There are landlords who do not like the idea of allowing their tenants the opportunity of painting the apartment.

If you and your landlord are on a friendly basis, perhaps you could  talk about a few suggestions about new paint agreeing to stay with some safe and neutral colors. They may even agree to share the cost of  the paint, and then you can possibly get on your way to the paint department.

You could consider buying a large area rug with which you could possibly cover most of the existing carpet, or maybe if you are a bit handy, maybe you can be able to create a temporary floor out of hardwood laminate that can cover up the middle part of the floor.

The countertops are quite a problem because you may be stuck with that except if it is in  really bad shape. To be able to cover over the bad counters, get a large chunk of wood or maybe glass, which are in the region of the size of the countertops, and then after that lay a custom-made tablecloth and put it on top of the counter and then the glass or the wood or top of that. It will cover the unwanted counter and giving you a work space that is handy and appealing.

Although these are not a lot of changes they are some very significant ones.

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Tips For Arranging and Decorating a Buffet Table

Setting a buffet table up requires some careful planning. There are a few things you need to think about, such as traffic flow, food, tableware, ease of access to the food, etc. before you get started. Everything needs to be set so that guests can easily get around the table and access the food they want. If you are going to be serving a lot of guests, you may want to consider having more than one buffet table set up. If so, then make sure there is plenty of space between each.

Place the food and silverware on the table(s) where they can be easily accessed by all guests. You shouldn't place all the silverware, napkins, plates, ice, etc. in one spot. Add them in a few different spots around the table to make the flow of traffic go more smoothly. This way, guests won't have to bump each other out of the way just to grab a spoon or a napkin.

You can use accessories on the buffet table for both functionality and style. Such accessories can include napkin holders, utensil holders, cup dispensers, and so forth. Keep the appetizers and desserts in baskets. Make sure the holders, dispensers, and baskets are all made to be sturdy so that they won't get knocked over easily. Also, arrange everything neatly on the buffet table so that the display will look nice and everybody will be able to grab whatever they need without any problems.

Be sure that there is a clear indication of where the line starts at the buffet table. All the food should be arranged so that guests can get everything without having to backtrack. If you are using more than one table, place the food in order in accordance to table order. Most people start off with the main course; move on the vegetables, salad, bread, and finally desserts.

Part of the table arrangement should include decorations. Cover the buffet table with a neat tablecloth or runner that matches the theme of the event. The centerpiece shouldn't be so high that your guests can't see each other over top of it. It's up to you whether you want to use a really nice, fancy table covering. If you do, keep in mind that people will more than likely spill drinks or food on it, so use a clear covering to protect it.

Follow these tips and you will set your buffet table successfully! Just don't overcrowd it with too many dishes, condiments, glasses, and decorations. Not only is an overcrowded table a recipe for disaster, it also looks sloppy. Sometimes less is better.

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Decorating Your Home For Christmas

People have all different kinds of ideas about decorating their home for Christmas. Inside your home, Christmas decorations help to give your home that Christmas spirit that people crave during the holiday season. It is an important part of your celebration and can help your home feel more inviting during the holidays. There are many different ways to decorate your home, but making your own Christmas decorations with your family can help make the time together more special and can give a great sense of pride and ownership. There are many different ideas that you can use to help with your interior Christmas decorating desires.

You can make your home into a Christmas masterpiece with some simple interior Christmas decorations.

o One cute idea is to make a display of festive seasonal dolls or bears. You can add a small Christmas tree with little presents. This is a great way to get your children involved. It is important to let them choose the items so that you don't choose one of their security objects, because you don't want to have to take apart your display to rescue one of their favorites.

o Another idea to help give your home that Christmas spirit is to use Christmas ribbon to tie bows all over your home. You can put them anywhere you can tie them, from your stair rails to your curtains.

o Hanging stockings throughout your home is a wonderful way to add that festive feel in your home.

o If you are looking for an activity to do with your children, then you may want to consider taking a white table cloth and painting it with fabric paint. This is a great way to add your children's personality to your room. Just be sure that you explain that painting on the tablecloth is a one time thing.

o Decorate your houseplants with small ornaments to help make them more Christmasy. If you are out of Christmas ornaments, use your Christmas cookie cutters with a little ribbon. You can't go wrong. If it appeals to you, then you can use it.

o Setting Christmas books out on your table is a great decoration and you can gain knowledge. You can even create a game around the trivia that you find inside of the books.

You don't have to spend lots of money on Christmas decorations. You can create your own with just a little effort and a few ideas much like these.

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Decorating Your Home Office

Twelve years ago, I set up my first home office, and many of my friends and family members were a little puzzled. "What will you do in there?" they asked, seemingly confused as to why I'd need a whole room instead of just a corner table where I could pay bills and store mail. I explained to them that I would be telecommuting, and they didn't quite get it. It was 1995, the term was little known in the business world, and people's reactions to it ranged from confused to suspect over the whole notion of combining home and work space.

Within a few years, all this changed. Most people learned more and more about telecommuting and home-based businesses, until it was accepted as a legitimate (and for many people, a preferable) way to work. Now, more than a decade after I set up my first home office, most people I know also have a fully equipped workspace in their homes, whether they work at home or not.

Today, people set up home offices for a variety of purposes, and many find that decorating these rooms can pose unique challenges. For instance, are there affordable yet attractive ways to contain inherently unattractive things like office supplies and files? And what kind of desk do you really need?

To begin decorating (or redecorating) your home office, think through some of the basics concepts important to this (and every) space:

Location. Will you need an entire room or just a portion of a room? For the heavy use home office, an entire room (if you have one to spare) may be warranted. Or you may want to create a combination home office/guest room using a spare bedroom. Also consider the type of space you'd like to work in. If you crave natural light and views of the outdoors, try to select an area where you'll have easy access to a window. Also make sure you're near electrical outlets and a phone jack, so you won't have long cords running all over the place.

Furnishings. A desk and chair will likely be at the top of your list of furniture needs. You may also need a filing cabinet, a printer stand, and bookshelves. Go for double-duty furnishings if your space is small. For instance, forgo a printer stand and place your printer on top of a short filing cabinet or on your bookshelf.

Lighting. Proper lighting is crucial to every work environment. You'll likely need overhead lighting (a fixture on the ceiling that throws bright light over the entire space) and task lighting (a lamp on your desk, e.g., to simplify reading).

Accessories. This may be a workspace, but don't forget: it's in your home, so you can decorate it in any way you please. Forget traditional office accessories like boring, Lucite desk clocks and bland art. Accessorize your home office with things that you love, whether that means framed Picasso prints, a collection of Cabbage Patch dolls, or sports memorabilia.

Storage. Things, things, and more things-where can you put them all? Think outside the box-the plastic black in-box, that is. Try baskets for files, books, even supplies. For a printer stand, consider using an old bench painted in the shade of your choice. An armoire (snagged on superclearance, of course) can house all your office supplies, and your filing cabinet can get an easy makeover if you toss a beautiful tablecloth over it. Business cards don't have to be slipped into a boring card file. I keep mine in a whimsical coffee mug a friend gave me one Christmas. They're neat, organized alphabetically, and always within reach.

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Decorating Your Dinner Table For Valentines Day

The most important thing to keep in mind while decorating a dinner table is to create a romantic and cozy feeling. The table setting should be arranged for two people as the day is celebrated as couples. Fill the air with love by decorating an intimate dinner table. To get started, place to chairs in the opposite ends of the table. A card table will be a perfect choice because it is small and the distance between the lovers will be minimal. The person should be able to reach to the other end of the table. Use a smooth and crisp tablecloth that is white or red, you can find it in a linen closet. The main motive behind the cloth is that it should cover the whole table and must touch the floor.

The next thing to do for building a valentine table is to fix the table with the best and finest china dishes. If you don't have any, then use whatever is available. Mixing the dishes that have matching patterns is a good option. Place some plates on top of the other and make a pair of goblets and wine glass. Use forks, spoon and knives that is silver and those which are matching while decorating the table.

The centerpiece should be very simple and has to be romantic. If you decide to put flowers as centerpiece then use some fresh flowers with long stem and place it in a glass vase which is small and crystal clear. Flowers like rose and carnations with pastel colour are very romantic and are great centerpieces. You can also use a potted plant with flowers; tie a red ribbon around the flower pot. The next step is to find some napkins. Napkins can be of any colour but keep in mind that all the napkins match. The napkins should be folded into thirds and laid on the top of the plates. There are different ways to fold a napkin. Every napkin should be tied up with ribbons and it should form a bow. Under each ribbon a flower can be placed. Buy some rose petals and spread them all over the dining table. This will help in giving a pleasant scent around the table.

A bottle of wine should be placed on the table along with a box of fancy chocolates. Finally light a candle near the centerpiece and play a romantic song.

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French and Country in Home Decorating

If you want to follow the latest tendencies in interior decoration, you should know it is fashionable to go French and country these days. You don't have to modify your home from top to bottom - a couple of rooms may be enough - though there are many people who own completely French country style homes and are really happy for making that choice.

There are several elements contributing to the French and country style: apart from the outside of the house with stone walls, you will see stone floors, raw wood ceiling, the typical stone fireplace, furniture containing rusted metal parts and different details obtained through carving and the whole spectrum of warm colours everywhere. It is old-world and so welcoming, in every detail.

We must not forget the growing vines that sometimes circle the windows and all those regular designs representing nature in its utmost beauty (grapes, sunflower, olives, beetles, lavender and many more) present on tablecloths and curtains made from natural materials, sometimes combined with checks and stripes for a more joyful appearance.

The French country style home is packed with flowers placed in baskets, copper pots or French glass vases both inside and outside. Window boxes showing lavender and geraniums are quite popular.

A French country home can be a joy to live in, always bright and ready to keep your spirits high. Yet, you can get a glimpse of the French and country style by only decorating one room of your house like that. The kitchen, for example, will make your meals delicious if served in French pottery adorned with the regular themes of flowers, roosters and olives, on a matching tablecloth and next to a couple of candles standing solemnly on iron holders.

How about devising a French and country living-room for your home? The stone fireplace will make your late autumn and winter nights unforgettable and so romantic. There are many places where you can order a nice sofa and matching rugs and chairs, pictures and other accessories that will turn your living-room into the best French country room ever with some help from interior decorators who know what to pick for you. A wide range of shelves, buffets, tables, lamps and other items specially made to look genuinely French and country can be found online. You may as well try yourself to bring together the items you like and create your own French country room to your heart's desire.

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Getting the Greatest Impact From Your Decorating Budget

When you set out to decorate your space, it's important to have a decorating budget to guide you. Whether you are remodeling a whole room or simply adding a window treatment to a room, there are ways that you can have your decorating dollars work really hard for you, which is a great way to stay well within your budget.

Painting
One of the most effective and economical ways to change the look of a room is to simply repaint it. Painting is easy, effective and affordable. Simply decide what kind of vibe you want your room to have, and get yourself a can of paint and a roller. You can make your room feel grounded with neutrals, calming with blues and greens and energized with reds and yellows.

The great thing about paint is that you can paint just about anything. You can paint virtually any kind of furniture, and you can even paint fabric. So think about using paint to update your furniture or even just to make it feel a little more cohesive in your room.

Sewing
Another way that you can stay within your decorating budget is to get out your sewing machine. If you keep your eyes open for good sales at your fabric store, you can pick up the perfect fabric, sometimes for just a couple of dollars. Then look at making some new covers for your throw pillows. Add a pop of color to your window treatments. You may even be able to make a slip cover for your couch.

You can also change the look of something that you already have by simply embellishing it. Sew a ribbon trim to your tablecloth, add buttons for trim on your curtains, and add lace to your bathroom towels for an affordable, custom update for your decor.

Shopping
A great decorating resource when you are trying to keep decorating costs down is your local thrift store. Look for accessories and even furniture to help complete the look of your room. The great thing about thrift stores is that they are constantly getting in new things to sell, and you never know when something great is going to show up. Sometimes you find the perfect piece of furniture that simply needs a quick coat of paint or some new hardware to be just right for your space.

You can also find fun details for your room like picture frames or a beautiful tapestry to hang on the wall.

Personal
As you are decorating your space, make sure to include that unique element that makes the room yours. Whether it is the colors that you choose to include in the room, the style of the furnishings or simply the way you assemble your pieces, make sure that there is an element of you in the room when you are finished.

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Home Decorating Ideas For A Small Dining Room

A spacious dining room was considered a necessity in older homes. However, today our homes seem to be more compact and the emphasis has moved toward allotting more space for the family room as well as other activity specific areas. The amount of space devoted entirely to eating is shrinking. Meet the challenge of making sure that your eating space is functional and attractive no matter what size it is which will in turn keep your family happy and healthy.

Evaluate where you eat now and see if there are ways to improve it. Is the seating comfortable? Does the table fit the area and is it the right type of table for your needs? Space-saving tables include drop-leaf tables that fold down when not in use. You may be able to get by with a smaller table if you have a nearby surface from which to serve food. Round tables will generally provide room for more people in less space than other shaped tables.

A slim table in a living room may offer an ideal place for a meal. A comfortable settee for two people which is part of the regular seating of the room can be used for seating as well as a couple of living room chairs pulled up to the other side of the table. You instantly have a dining place for four people that is attractive and functional.

When shopping for a dining table, consider the shape of the table. Square and round tables are more equal in width and length. Rectangular tables are longer in length than width. Round and square tables fit most anywhere. Rectangular tables fit very nicely against a wall which allows for better "traffic flow" in the area.

Dress up the dining room table with pretty table linens. If you own a beautiful table, then show it off! If your dining table is unattractive, cover it with a beautiful damask or linen tablecloth and no one will know how it looks underneath.

When you entertain guests, remember that 90% of the success of a meal lies in its presentation. Keep that in mind when selecting the table linens, napkins, plates, flatware, and serving dishes as well as the favorite food dishes you are going to serve.

Formal table setting are always appropriate but not necessary. You can set an eye-catching table and still stay within your budget. One decorating idea is to collect glasses in one color theme combining antique styles with modern styles to unify the look. They will look great in a dining room of any size.

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Baby Shower Decorating

The baby shower is a relatively recent phenomenon in Western culture. It started after World War II, along with the Baby Boom, because many parents needed help in affording to buy everything they needed to take care of their new child.

Now, fifty years later, the Baby Shower tradition continues to grow and evolve. However, the main thing that must happen at any Shower is that your guests enjoy themselves. This is achieved by holding the shower in an attractive environment - whether it be at a private home or in a restaurant or other meeting place - and making sure there are plenty of activities to keep the guests busy.

In this article we will concentrate on decorating for the Baby Shower.

The first thing to do before acquiring any decorations is to decide what kind of baby shower it's going to be. Elegant, casual, whimsical? Based on a theme? Host and expectant mother must get together to decide those details. The budget must be decided upon. Number of guests. The location of the shower.

If the baby shower is going to be held at a restaurant or private club, make sure you consult with the appropriate people as to what kind of decorations you can and can't use. Don't purchase any decorations until you know where the shower is going to be held, and what is to be allowed there.

If the shower is held at a place other than one you know well, make sure you visit it well ahead of time so that you can get an idea of the dimensions of the room where the shower will be held, the ease of access, toilet facilities, etc.

There is no need to go overboard on the decorations. A few tasteful items to highlight the event will serve much better than a jumble of pieces that in all likelihood will go unnoticed by the guests.

Make it easy to find the Baby Shower! If its in a restaurant, make sure the maitre' d or manager knows where the event is being held. If they allow signs in the lobby, put one there. Otherwise, a balloon bouquet with ribbons floating above the appropriate tables is a great way to mark out the territory - but make sure the restaurant allows you to do this.

If it's being held in a home, a sign outside - usually that of a stork! will do the trick.

Wall Decorations Balloons are always a staple of baby shower decorations. Paper streamers or banners are also much used.

Paper Goods Although it's possible to purchase theme-decorated paper goods, all that's really needed is to ensure that the plates, cups, napkins and eating utensils are color-coordinated. A table cloth always adds a touch of cloth. Table centerpieces can consist of fresh flower arrangements or arrangements of candles. Using placecards is optional... those friends seated far away from the expectant mother on purpose, might feel a bit hurt! Better to let them arrange these things amongst themselves.

Start your decorating of the room with several hours to spare to ensure you have time to rush out for any last minute items. Balloons filled with helium should be purchased on the day of the shower to ensure that they are fresh and ready to go.

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Decorating and Organizing a Dorm Room

It is the day that you find out that everything that you really need to bring (and absolutely can't live without), in order to help further your educational experience, isn't going to fit in that tiny 15x15 room. UGH! What now?

It is evident that the walls can't be pushed back, the ceiling is high, but the school would frown on anyone putting up shelves from floor to ceiling and there isn't any room to put very many clothes for three seasons of the year. There isn't any way to hire a room expander, but there are ways of improving this situation.

Let's start with the door to the room;

The perfect place for an over the door hanger to hang all of your jackets, scarves etc. on. Now they won't take up space in the closet.

It is real easy to attach a string or ribbon to the top of this and hang it on the outside of the door and attach a pocket with paper and pencil so friends can leave notes when you are out and push them under the door.

Closet

Invest in a closet rod addition. These can be purchased in the housewares department of most stores. Hang blouses on the top, skirts and extra jackets on the bottom.

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This is a great place for storing extras like, pens, pencils, erasers etc.

Hair accessories, combs brushes and hairspray;

Make-up, tanning lotions, perfume, deodorant

Rubbermaid

Don't forget under the bed for that extra storage space for the clothes that you aren't going to wear until next season or just once in a while.

Microwave Cart

Add the microwave on top

Heating dishes and paper plates/plastic forks on the shelf

Fast heating food on the bottom-keep mac and cheese, rice-a-roni, canned spaghetti and beef stew ready for those late night cram sessions.

3 Drawer plastic drawers on wheels

These are great for keeping the computer paper in,

Notebooks and theme paper etc.

These also come in handy for socks, underwear etc.

Throw a tablecloth over the top and they can second as end tables

Trunks

If there are two, you can stack them, turn them upright or place them side by side in a corner of the room and throw a sheet over them. You have made a nightstand, light table, or coffee table. If you can manage to put it out into the room a little (only works if you have a loft bed), you can put large throw pillows on the floor to sit on. Plus, you have hidden storage in the trunks!

2 Drawer File Cabinet

These not only come in handy for the file storage and hiding books; you can use it for a printer stand, or throw a tablecloth over it and put a lamp on it.

Try to think of things that have a double purpose, items that are inexpensive, things that are easy to pack and move.

There are so many fun things to do with dorms such as; color co-ordinate, use a theme and just seeing how much stuff two people can get in it can be the laugh of all time.

Keep in mind that during Christmas Vacation and Spring Break most schools have the students empty their dorm rooms so they can paint and clean. All dorm items need to be convenient to pack, carry and relocate.

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Decorating With Pillows

It is so easy to add springtime color and comfort to your home with pillows. You can sew them yourself or purchase the pillow forms from craft, hobby or department stores and then decorate them yourself. From little bitty pillows that can be used to decorate doorknobs to giant pillows that can be used as extra seating, pillows can transform the look of the room in an instant!

If you are looking for super fast and inexpensive ways to redecorate your home, don't overlook the pillow. In hundreds of shapes and sizes and every color under the sun, pillows are a wonderful way to add color to a dull room. They are so completely versatile you will want to get plenty of pillow forms to cover. Old pillows can be refurbished with new fabrics and colors, and there are even some very quick fixes for the sewing challenged!

Making pillows: squares, circles, rectangles, ovals, and bolsters are all the most obvious pillow shapes. You don't need to stop there; you can make any shape you want. There are even pillows that store blankets! There are so many possibilities; it's a good thing that you don't have to pick just one! You can even choose to have pillows in the shape of Sponge Bob, Dora, Monsters or any of your other favorite characters.

Perhaps, you already have plenty of pillows but you want to breathe new life into them. It's very easy thing to do even if you aren't super crafty. If you don't want to spend hours on a complex makeover project, consider these simple ideas: make two granny squares to fit the existing pillow, turn them at an angle and secure the corners of the granny squares. This idea also works using two bandanas and tying them together at the corners. You can even cover pillows with your old scarves and you can make pillows from old blankets or quilts and they are wonderful on a particularly chilly night. Why stop there; you can even make pillows from old sweat shirts or T-shirts. The possibilities are endless.

Some not so ordinary uses for pillows may be as simple as making giant pillows to use as extra seating for a large gathering. Large square or rectangle pillows are perfect for children and teens to sit on the floor and that will free up precious sofa space for older guests. Smaller pillows can be used for comfortable padding on metal chairs or unpadded barstools. Pillows made from old flannel backed table cloths and stuffed with plastic grocery store bags are perfect for the patio or deck.

You can also make pillows for use as decorations for your home. "Do Not Disturb" is a great pillow for a bedroom door and "sleeping" is perfect for a new baby's bedroom door. These little pillows can be made from felt scraps, cotton print fabrics or from fun fur, which can be found in the remnant table at your local fabric store.

You can make wonderful pillows for Fido and Fluffy. Using a Scotch guarded fabric that when doubled will be the right size for your dog, simply stitch up the sides and stuff with grocery bags. You can do the same thing for a cat, but toss in a little cat nip to attract the cat. Cats love the pillow even more if you stuff it with plastic bags so it will crinkle when they touch it. Tossing in a fabric softener sheet will help eliminate odors!

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10 Tips For Decorating Your Office For Halloween

It is almost that time of the year, Halloween, when it is socially acceptable play dress up and eat copious amounts of sweets without being judged. Personally, one of my favorite days of the year. You probably already have your costume laid out, your Halloween plans made, your Halloween decorations in place at your home, but what about decorating your office? If you want to take Halloween to a new level this year and get in the festive spirit, consider taking some time to decorate your office for Halloween without pushing the envelope too far.

Spider Webs: These are quite possibly the oldest Halloween prop around, but they can instantly turn your office into a spooky hit. They are also relatively easy to put up and take down. Around Halloween season you can find spider webs at virtually any store at a low cost. Hang them along the walls, across desks, over the door, or even on your office chair. Add fake plastic spiders or spider rings you can wear in the webs to spice it up a little more!
Costumes: If Halloween falls on a work day, have some fun and wear your costume to the office, if permitted to do so. As long as it is work appropriate, have your employees and yourself dress up to get in the Halloween spirit and make work pass by a little faster. Costume contests for the best costume at work are also a great idea to encourage others to dress up.
Pumpkins: If you have some extra time on your hands, carve a pumpkin for work! Extra points for pumpkins that include a company name or logo on it. If you do not want to spend a lot of money or time carving a pumpkin for work, there are also plenty of fake pumpkins that are already carved and will not break your budget. Place them on desks or counters and they will give everyone something to look at to brighten up their day.
Pot of Candy: If you use the excuse that you are too old to trick or treat or want to get your candy fix early, consider investing in a pot of candy. Buy a plastic black bowl that you can find at any local store and fill it up with your favorite candies such as Twix, Snickers, and Butterfingers. Then set it out on your desk or anywhere easily accessible to allow others working in the office to help themselves.
Black and Orange Streamers: Streamers are one of the easiest and cheapest Halloween decorations to put up. Just use some masking tape and intertwine the black and orange streamers and you are good to go. Hang them on your walls, across your desk, or anywhere in your office that is looking a little bare.
Balloons: Everyone loves balloons, and during this time of the year many party supply stores offer packs of black and orange balloons. Get black and orange string to tie the balloons and set them free in places where they will be easy to take down later. Make sure not to set them free in places that you can not reach or you will have to wait for them to deflate on their own. Try not to go overboard on the balloons and stick to 10 or less.
Inflatables: Pick up some pumpkin, witch, and ghost inflatables and set them around the office. You can even have them sitting in your office chair while you are out to lunch or sitting on your desk to give you some entertainment throughout the day. You can even put them on your company lawn to show you are really in the spirit of Halloween.
Black Lights: If you are really in the Halloween mood and looking to go all out consider investing in some black lights. Put them in hallways or places where you do not need good light or reading light. They will really give your office a spooky vibe and a haunted house feel if you are looking to go above and beyond in your decorating plan.
Banner: Hang up a Halloween Banner in the office some place where everyone can see it. Try using a wall or outside a door to really showcase your spirit. Many party stores have these with many different designs, so pick one that best suits your office. If you work with kids, try to pick one that is not too scary and more kid friendly.
Decorate the door: Purchase a large vinyl or plastic Halloween table cloth and cover your door with it. You can also buy a large roll of black felt from a fabric store and cover the door that way. Get extra creative and cut out pumpkins or letters that spell out Happy Halloween and adhere them to the felt. You can also hang happy Halloween signs or plastic bats from the door knob.

Have some fun in your workplace this year while preparing for the spookiest holiday of the year.

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10 Things You Should Know About Interior Decorating

Home interior decorating is a perfect opportunity for you to express yourself. It allows you to showcase your interests; interests in furniture, art and even different cultures. Every style is different, with some being elaborate while others are plain. However, there is a style to suit your personality as well as your budget. Here are 10 Things You Should Know About Interior Decorating.

1. Hire a Professional - If you absolutely hate the idea of decorating the interior of your home, a professional interior decorator might be the best solution for you. They will work with you to help you choose a design including colors, flooring, furnishings and accessories. They will put the plan in motion but you'll probably need to hire a painter or someone to install your flooring. This is a great option if you can afford it but many people do not have the funds to pay a professional interior decorator, a painter and a flooring installer.

2. Getting Ideas - Being able to find ideas is a treat but having access to free ideas is a real gift. Good news, there are free interior decorating ideas available to you. Often when you pick up a magazine, perhaps while waiting at the doctor's office, something in the home decorating section catches your eye. Relaying tips and techniques for home improvements, this magazine is offering you free ideas. Another great source of information regarding home dÙcor and decorating is a catalog from major stores such as Sears, Zellers or Ikea. Advertising their products, they use illustrations of fully decorated rooms. Browsing catalogs such as these you'll find many free decorating ideas.

3. Country Style - Country Style decorating combines colors which are clean and bright with country furniture and accessories. When choosing colors for country Style , light to medium shades of white, yellow, pink, green or brown are good choices. Colors should reflect a rustic feeling. To add to the painted walls, you may decide to use stencils with country character such as flowers or plants, fruits or vegetables. Wallpaper boarders are also often used in country Style . It is fine to use these additions but the rule of thumb is - to make sure the patterns do not clash.

4. Log Cabin - Decorating a log cabin or even a cottage, usually takes in the country theme. Keeping with the various aspects of nature and its simplicity and freshness, a log cabin ought to provide peace and tranquility. Most log cabins are in the forest or country areas. Using a country style would mean bringing the beauty of the outside, inside. Decorating a log cabin or a cottage shouldn't be too difficult using the country theme since the ideas and color schemes sitting right outside the window.

5. Home Gym - Picking a theme for your home gym may be challenging. It's not exactly a spot to put a fancy, slip-covered country chair. Simple colors won't likely fit your home gym. Decorating your home gym ought to breathe life into the space. Using bright colors and lots of lighting might improve the atmosphere, adding energy to the room. When decorating your home gym you might want to choose a modern theme. Using vivid colors and trendy furniture would definitely make the room feel alive.

6. Fabrics - You must choose fabrics that speak to you. It's also important to remember that fabrics can be quite expensive. Once you've decided on a fabric and purchase it to use in your home, you may have to live with it for a long time. For this reason it is best to be absolutely certain before making that final decision. Fabrics often require special care for washing. If you'd rather a fabric that is easy to care for, make sure this is considered when choosing the fabrics. Remember this is your space, your decision and it should meet your needs. There are thousands of fabrics to choose from. By using available resources such as home dÙcor magazines and catalogues, Internet websites and of course fabric stores in your area, you ought to be capable of making a sensible decision and appropriate choice for home decorating fabrics.

7. Pictures - Pictures are very beneficial when making plans to decorate both the interior and exterior of your home. Pictures either confirm your visions or provide a totally different reality. Pictures offer you an opportunity to browse and pick a design that best suits you and your home. There are so many designs to choose from, some you've probably never heard of. Current home decorating pictures offer you a chance to view all of the latest trends in home decorating for each and every room in your home.

8. Floors - The floor is a great place to start in decorating a space. Black and white vinyl tiles laid alternately makes a beautiful checkerboard pattern and looks clean and elegant. Black marble used on the floor, accented by wide white baseboards, another beautiful idea for decorating a home. White ceramic tiles with a black border or simply paint the floor black or white and use stencils of the opposite color for decoration. These are great ideas for decorating a home.

9. Paint -You need to consider carefully the combinations of colors you wish to incorporate into each room of your home and how these colors will affect the rooms they will be 'overflowing' into. It is true that most people are attempting to trend away from the idea of having the same color in every room of the house. Instead more people are opting to have every room as a fresh palate whenever possible. This allows for maximum options when it comes to decorating a home and allows each room to be similar to some degree but maintain its very own unique personality if that is your wish.

10. Home Office - When looking for ideas for home office, why not look around your home. No doubt there are pieces of furniture that aren't being used. Perhaps there's a comfortable chair you can take for your home office. If space is a big issue, you might want to build a desk. Building a desk for your home office project can be as simple as laying a piece of board on top of a filing cabinet or a smaller table. Home office decorating doesn't mean you have to rush out to an office furnishing store and max out your credit card. You can decorate a home office using items you already have or if you'd like something different, why not visit a few charity shops or garage sales. You are guaranteed to find something useful that will cost you very little.

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Cottage Style Decorating - A Cottage by the Lake

Have you ever spent your vacation at a cottage by a lake? If so, you know the relaxing and comforting feeling of spending time in a beautiful setting. The following is a reflection of the fond memories I have of spending a couple of weeks each summer at a Minnesota lake cottage.

What did I like about that cottage? I liked the simple casual décor which was a mixture of hand-me-downs and antiques that had been in the cottage for years. I liked the rustic feel of the paneling in the living room which had outlived its popularity.

The living room was a mixture of furniture including an antiqued open-shelf cabinet, a small rocking chair, and a heavy steel-framed couch. There was also a small, round antique ice cream table with two chairs. Colorful pillows added a nice touch to the cottage style decorating.

The kitchen had been somewhat modernized but still required hand washing dishes and getting ice cubes out of a tray! Another family member had "antiqued" the kitchen table using red paint and had also added red and white checked curtains and tablecloth to match. The table was a sturdy, square wooden table that was very durable. The kitchen also had a white wooden open -shelved cabinet which displayed collectibles and drawers which stored linens.

The bedroom had an antique dresser and chest as well as two double bunk beds. An oval braided rug completed the cottage look of the bedroom.

The secret to cottage style decorating is keeping it casual and having a feeling of friendly comfort as the goal. This feeling of comfort and relaxation was certainly evident in the "cottage by the lake." There was no sentiment of pretense or make-believe as the cottage was "what you see is what you get." For that reason it was a peaceful refuge from the hectic routine of life; a place to unwind, slow down and regroup until the next summer vacation.

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Decorating Ideas For Kids Bathrooms

Since kids tend to start and end the day in the bathroom, giving it a "good vibe" is important. Bright colors and fun touches will help them start and end the day with a smile. But decorating a child's bathroom isn't all about fun, you want it to be functional, too. Making it easy for your kids to keep their bathroom tidy is an added bonus.

Since most bathroom spaces are small, save the murals for the kids' bedrooms. A lively shade is all that's needed to bring bathroom walls to life. Naturally, if you're going with a theme, it will dictate the color you choose. For example, turquoise is a perfect fit for an underwater scheme, a sky fantasy bathroom might have walls painted robin's egg blue, and a soft green makes the perfect backdrop for a jungle-themed bathroom. Stencils and vinyl decals let you add character to the walls, while a peppy-printed shower curtain pulls the whole look together.

If the bath/shower enclosure is glass enclosed, you can pep it up with vinyl window decals in fun designs. Be sure to use the type that adheres by static cling instead of adhesive. Otherwise, you'll spend a lot of time scraping old adhesive off the glass when your child outgrows the pattern. Another fun way to decorate a glass shower or bathtub door is to let your child design her own window "stickies" with a craft kit you can purchase at most toy or craft stores. Kids squeeze a gel out of a bottle and onto a piece of parchment type paper. It dries into a soft, rubbery type of plastic that clings to glass surfaces. Kids love both the creativity as well as taking part in decorating "their" bathroom.

Don't forget to add safety to your design list. Whether you choose a rubber bath mat or non-slip adhesive decals, make sure the bottom of the tub or shower your child will use has a bottom covering that provides traction. Make those decals or bath mats a bright color, and you'll draw your child's attention as he steps in, subtly developing a safety habit of looking where you step. Be sure, too, that any throw rugs on the floor outside the tub have a non-slip backing to keep kids from falling and hitting their heads on the tub. In addition, big, knobby clothes hooks will cause less head pain when bumped than pointed hooks. And, if you are adding a step stool to help little ones reach the faucet, be sure the bottom is equipped with non-skid rubber footings.

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Choose Rawhide Chandelier Lamp Shades For Western Interior Decorating

Rawhide and leather chandelier lamp shades are a superb option for southwestern or metal chandeliers and lights. Because they are an easy way to incorporate southwestern style that looks great with southwestern and Native American accessories, many designers are choosing to incorporate them in their design projects.

Sometimes you will see these kinds of lamp shades used on large lighting fixtures in hunting cabins, western homes, and steakhouse restaurants where a southwestern design style is used. You will most likely be surprised at how easy it is to incorporate western design into your interior design by simply using rawhide lamp shades on your chandeliers and wall sconces, or on lamps that need a smaller size southwestern style shade.

You will no doubt love the soft light generated by the natural color of the rawhide and the inviting setting it creates no matter where you decide to place it. Rawhide chandelier lamp shades are certainly the best choice when wanting to design an elegant look without loosing western design.

One big reason these rawhide lamp shades are so popular for Spanish style chandeliers and other home lighting fixtures is because of the many choices available. When using a specific color pattern, you have the option of choosing a pig-skin shade in one of many colors to match, or the natural warm color of rawhide.

It doesn't matter which kind of rawhide or leather chandelier lamp shades you need, you will no doubt be happy with the style you can accomplish with these shades. The fact that these leather shades are fashioned by hand, gives them a certain uniqueness you won't find in factory made lamp shades.

Because they are each constructed with a built-in bulb clip, you can easily change even the smallest desk lamp or table lamp into a stylish southwestern accessory. Try hanging a large Spanish style chandelier with rawhide chandelier lamp shades over an elegant dining table, or hung as the focal point in the living room of a rustic style cabin.

You will like how it remarkably enhances your interior, adding warmth and adding a look of the old west. It is the authentic leather and rawhide that brings out the quality of wood furnishings and southwestern decor items.

If you have been hunting for the right rustic lamps to pair with southwestern interior design, you will certainly enjoy the unique style you can achieve with leather shades. Because of their many different uses, chandelier shades can be used on lighting fixtures you already own, or on unique metal lighting fixtures.

Not only do western chandelier shades give you the option of transforming the style of your interior, you will also enjoy how easy it is to find them online. Find the right size shade for decorative lamps and chandeliers in several interesting styles and colors. You won't come across a better way to heighten the look of southwestern home decor than with the beauty of rustic rawhide and leather chandelier lamp shades.

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