Seasons change, styles change, even personal preference change from time to time. We understand the need to update the look/feel of your home and the patio is no different. As we are coming into the full swing of spring we thought you might like to see what the biggest trends are for outdoor furniture in 2013. There is a lot going on this year, but you’re going to love these top ideas!

Via Houzz

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The idea of painting interior doors for decoration and beauty is not new, but the addition of many different geometric themes has brought in a whole other dimension to custom décor for homeowners. The experts state that it is a good idea to bring in vibrant colors that may cost more because they have a greater amount of pigment and will be longer lasting than other types of paint. Interior doors are not difficult to paint but they do require a certain amount of skill, especially if they are painted while hanging. Most painters take them off the hinges so they can paint the finer areas easier and with a greater degree of accuracy.

Décor for the doors is as complex or simple as the homeowner wants it to be. Some skilled painters use the panels of the door as a mini canvas for finely detailed painting or shapes with the trim and accents in a color other than the main color used. It is a good idea to consider what main color is used for the room and paint the door a contrasting or complimentary color. Some people have treated interior door panels as a likely place for designs like quilt blocks, flowers or animals. The choice is up to the whims of the owner.

Luckily, the ability to change the color is usually easy, just cover over the layers already painted and the door is ready to be redone in whatever scheme is deemed necessary. The use of the interior doorway in home décor and fashion is one way to make use of a limited amount of space that quickly becomes the accent for a whole room or theme in a home. Painting does indeed open the door for unique décor in your home!

With finances being strapped for most parents, there is a need to keep our children happy without breaking the bank. One of the ways to do that will be to transform your child’s room without spending a small fortune on designer items.

Instead, focus on the personality of the child you are going to be designing the room for. If they are a fan of animals, add some paint to the walls and draw them a selection of simple animals and tie the colors of the wall into the sheets and curtains. This gives them a unique room they will love, without buying branded items that your child is going to lose interest in a few months later such as comic book and cartoon characters.

For this process to work, you do need to include your child in the decision making process. Come up with three or four ideas and ask your child which of those choices they would like to have in their room. You can then have them walk through the decoration process and feel like they have had a say in designing their room.

During this process, you also need to be open to using hand me downs. A table from an older sibling that needs a larger desk now can be painted and blended into the younger child’s room. That reuses something that you already have and reduces the number of items that you are will have to eventually buy.

Remember, the key here will be to create a room your child will love, without going beyond what you can afford. Keep things simple in this room and you are going to find that you are going to be able to create an amazing space for your child, that they will enjoy spending time in.

Felt is an overlooked fabric in today’s decor. Many think of felt as a material strictly for craft projects, when in truth it makes great additions to the overall decor of many rooms. Here are a few ideas for using this very durable and versatile fabric:

*Cushion covers. Get a little batting and create beautiful cushion covers to match the colors of the room.

*Make crafts. Create flowers and rosettes and glue them to lampshades and window dressings for a pretty touch.

*Re purpose an old dresser, bench, sideboard or any piece of scarred furniture. Just glue felt to the surface to match the decor and give the room a facelift.

*Place mats. Create colorful place mats for the dining table, even to match certain seasons or occasions.

*Make a rug. Take long wide strips of felt and sew together patchwork style for a nice felt rug.

*Create a bag. Bags made of felt can be used to store magazines, firewood, books, pillows or anything you wish to leave out and in a nice decorative container.

*Table runners. Just like with the place mats, make table runners for any table surface in the home, and cater them to match the seasons and occasions.

Do you want a way to add modern flair and style to your home? Add a fireplace that serves more than one purpose – double or triple sided fireplace. This gives rooms an open feel while serving to heat and make cozy more than just one space. It gives the appearance of a modern style that is not common, though these days it is becoming more common. It helps to conserve energy, because two to three spots share the heat, and it helps to heat the home faster.

Want to make a home really appealing? Have a double fireplace that shares a porch, so you have both an outdoor and an indoor fireplace. The outdoor portion has a glass door that shuts when you wish to lock it from the outside, but if you wish to have a gathering on your porch or deck or patio, just open the door and enjoy the benefits of an outdoor fireplace, while keeping your home toasty warm at the same time.

When you think of home the first thing that comes to mind is a place where you can relax and rejuvenate after a long day. Cozy, comfortable, welcoming, snug and warm are all words that describe our perfect retreat. Regardless of what it is called, the ultimate goal is the same. Creating a home that is inviting for you as well as friends and relatives only takes a little planning.

Make your home a place where people love to visit. The way you greet people makes them feel welcome or unwanted. Greet guests with enthusiasm so they will know they are welcome. Provide a place where they can kick off their shoes and feel right at home.

Create a space where you can be alone and relax. Whether it is taking a nap, reading a book or daydreaming, it should be a spot where you can curl up and be totally at ease. One way of creating this space is to use throw pillows on a sofa or choose warm colors for an area rug. Candles add ambiance.

Do not worry about having everything perfectly coordinated. Often homes have a sterile feel because they lack the little touches that define the rooms. A plant, photos of family and friends, the way the furniture is grouped and the fabrics used for windows can make a home feel cozier. A home is where you live – not a display.

Today, we live in an electronic world. From HDTVs to cell phones, video games, computers and more, our homes are filled with all sort of electronics. Too many times, they distract from just spending time chatting or reminiscing. Choose a room for friendly visits and keep it clear of all these distractions. This should be a room where you can sit with friends and family and enjoy a cup of coffee or hot tea without jumping up to answer the telephone or checking your email.

It will be the little things that you do in order to create a home that is cozy and inviting. Create a place where you can put your feet up and spend a lazy afternoon.

Smart storage solutions will transform your kitchen from cluttered to cozy. No matter how small your kitchen there’s probably more room for stuff than you think. Start with the following tips and let the possibilities unfold.

Lids

Lids are almost impossible to find when you need them if they’re all jumbled in a drawer. Install a slide-out pot lid rack inside a lower cabinet to keep tops organized.

Window Seat

Window seats are pretty in the kitchen. Make them pay for their keep by equipping a window seat with deep, roll out cabinets underneath.

Preparation Space

Need more countertop space? Extend prep space with a hinged piece of butcher block that you can fold down when not in use.

Instant Storage

A wire baker’s rack with hooks and adjustable shelving will instantly expand kitchen storage.

Blacksplash Rail

Free up valuable space by installing a blacksplash rail system with hooks. Sleek stainless steel complements the modern kitchen décor. Get your kitchen utensils out of the junk drawer and hang them to save both time and space.

Clear Turntable

Spices, medicines, small jars or bottles will be visible and won’t spill when displaying them on a clear turntable. No more standing on tippy-toe to reach small items way in back of the pantry!

Kitchen Tool Holders

Rescue those turners, flippers and slotted spoons from the junk drawer and arrange them in a beautiful kitchen tool holder. It’s easy to find the perfect holder to match your décor. Look at wall mounted tool holders if you’re short on counter space.

Small Storage Bins for Specialized Items

Sort out your specialized items like Christmas cookie cutters and cake decorating tools and put them in clear plastic bins. Label each bin and stack them in your pantry or a closet.

Cabinet Organizers

You can instantly double your cabinet space by using cabinet organizers to stack your dishes. You’ll also reduce breakage with individualized storage space for plates, platters and saucers.

Divide and Conquer

By storing pizza pans, cutting boards, cookie sheets, etc. on their sides you not only save space, these items will be easier to reach. Use kitchen dividers to separate items.

Interior decorating is a creative way to add harmony and balance to rooms. However, the right colors must be used to achieve the look. Often the wrong colors are used and the overall effect is not what is desired. Learning how to mix and match shades to generate a look that is warm and inviting is the key to successful interior decorating.

What Colors are Best?

Red, blue, cream and brown can be used to add warmth as well as complimenting each other to provide accents in a room. Since red and brown are warm colors, mixing them with a cool color – blue – and a neutral color – cream – provides balance. This includes adding accent pieces that feature all of these colors.

The main color used on the walls can be cream or you can use brown. Cream will accent the other colors that will be used for the furnishings. Brown provides a calm background for the cream, blue and red furnishing. Deep blue can be used when coordinated with cream to provide a good look. Painting one wall one color and the other three a complimenting color is also an option that works well

Whether you are using blue, cream or brown for the walls, the furniture as well as window treatments and rugs should incorporate some of these colors to help accent the color chosen. For example, the furniture can be a solid color and the art and decorative items used in the room can be a mixture of the other colors. Painting the walls brown and using accessories that incorporate red, blue and cream provides a calm, soothing look.

Don’t make this Mistake

One of the mistakes most often made when selecting the main color for a room is using one that is too bright. This can have the opposite effect of what you are trying to achieve. The room ends up looking sterile rather than inviting. Use warm colors, such as red and brown and add splashes of all the colors to throw cushions, lampshades, wall hangings and other accessories.

You will find the colors used are going to be the most important feature of interior decorating. The right colors used in harmony will create a room that welcomes friends and family as well as creating a peaceful retreat for you.