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		Clearing Clutter and Rearranging Your Décor for a Fresh Look 10 Tips for Painting a Room Small Bathroom Decorating Tips Cheap and Easy Wall Decorating Do It Yourself Furniture Repair Click here to see our selection of wall clocks! Cheap and Easy Wall Decorating Author: Kathy Wilson Decorating our walls seems to be a huge dilemma to most home decorators, but it need not be. Here are some quick and easy ways to dress up your walls, on a budget! The most common mistake most people make in decorating their walls is to sprinkle things around just to fill empty space. Instead, draw an imaginary rectangle on the main focal wall in the room you wish to dress up. Now fill that rectangle with a grouping of related art, such as portraits, plates, or clocks. This makes much a better impact on the room than the "sprinkle" effect. Try to hang larger scale items to make your rooms seem bigger. This doesn't mean you have to run out and spend hundreds or thousands on a large painting! Hang a rug or a pretty quilt. Create a dramatic wall hanging with a large piece of plywood, some paint, and one inspirational word in large letters. Faith, "Believe" or "Dream" are great ones. Paint a simple border and background in neutral colors. Then sketch on your word in blocks with pencil, and fill in with paint. Try setting off a special portrait or a wall collection by painting a background "frame". Make the frame at least 4-6 inches larger than the art, tape off with painters tape, and fill in with a darker version of your wall color. If you have dozens of different frames and pictures, tie them all together by painting the frames all the same color. Black gives an elegant touch to any style décor. White is very fresh, and a bright color can be fund in a contemporary design. Consider using stencils to add detail and design to your walls. It's easy, relatively fast, and inexpensive. Pick up a simple design to wrap around windows and doors, or to add detail to your painted "frames" around your wall art groupings. Finally, look at unconventional items as wall art. A weathered piece of driftwood accents over a doorway, or an old wooded box can hang as a curio cabinet. Simple wooded blocks can be attached to the wall as candleholders or display shelves. Your children's christening dress can be hung as memory art, or you can frame a piece of the maternity dress you loved while you were pregnant with your youngest. Use your imagination! Decorating walls doesn't have to be daunting, just use these easy ideas to get you started! About The Author: Kathy Wilson is a home and garden writer, author and consultant and is the home decorating expert for http://LifetimeTV.com. Visit her for more home and garden ideas at http://www.TheBudgetDecorator.com and http://www.TheGardenGlove.com. Return to top of page Click here to see our wall mirrors! Clearing Clutter and Rearranging Your Décor for a Fresh Look By Monica Resinger Sometimes we can get stuck into a rut thinking that we have accomplished our decorating goals because we were satisfied with the look at some point; I have since learned that there is no end point to decorating your home (even when your goals have been satisfied) and that it is an on-going process that requires constant assessing. Sometimes clutter will take over an area without our notice. Sometimes our interests change and what once looked good to us no longer does. We let things go and areas in our home become too dusty to be able to see any beauty whatsoever. Sometimes things get broken. These are reasons we need to constantly assess our décor. Recently, I had been craving a new look in my home yet didn’t want to change the theme or spend a lot of money. I decided to try and clear clutter and move items around to see if that would give me the change I wanted, and, to my surprise, it did wonders and it can for you too. First, choose a small area of your home that is lacking beauty, cluttered or otherwise needs a lift. This area could be a tabletop, shelf, drawer, space on the floor or any area that is bothering you. You may have a lot of these areas like I did; if so, don’t try to take them on all at once, just do one little area at a time and it will make a difference. Upon completion of each small area, you’ll gain confidence, inspiration and motivation for completing another small area and you’ll be spurred on to finish in no time while enjoying the process. Once you have the area chosen, clear everything away from it. Take a look at the items you have cleared from the area and be sure you really love them or they are useful to you. Anything that you don’t love or use is clutter and you should get rid of it right away. Pack these items into a box to give to a charity, friend or relative. If there are any broken items, throw them away. If there are items that belong elsewhere, put them away where they belong. Wipe the surface of the area and the items you are keeping in the area with a damp rag, or clean otherwise. Now comes the fun part. Begin experimenting with a new arrangement for this area by placing the original items, and/or other items from your home into new spots; keep experimenting until you get a pleasing look. Here are some additional tips: · Add a colorful doily or table runner before replacing the items. · If you have created new space by clearing clutter, consider adding a basket of potpourri, a pretty scented candle or vase of fresh flowers. These items can usually fit in with any type of décor and add scent and color. · If the area you are working on is a piece of furniture, consider painting, staining or re-surfacing it. I have three ugly pressed wood end tables that I am currently giving new paint treatments to. To do this, I have lightly sanded the surface so the paint will stick, then painted different acrylic colors that coordinate with my decorating theme into each section. This alone is such a huge improvement from the ugly dark pressed wood, but I’m also going to paint a freehand lighthouse into one of the bigger sections. Another idea to consider is to cut wallpaper or contact paper to fit into sections of furniture or to cover completely. · Don’t forget your walls. You probably don’t want or need to take everything off of your walls, but you certainly can consider rearranging pictures or wall art, or, adding new ones. Maybe your walls could use a wash also; now’s the time to consider it. · If there are items you need to store, like remote controls, pens and pencils, a notepad, etc., find a pretty container to contain them in, such as a basket, or a hat box. · If a holiday is coming up, consider placing a few of your holiday decorations into the area. · Maybe rearranging your furniture will give you the change you need. You can also consider slip-covering your sofa or chairs for a new look. If you feel the need for a change in your décor, but lack the money and/or motivation for a new theme, I urge you to try clearing clutter and rearranging your décor for a fresh new look; I promise it will be well worth the effort. Brought to You By: Homemaker's Journal E-publications, the growing home of many fun and informative home and garden e-books, tip sheets, articles and more! http://homemakersjournal.com/ Return to top of page 10 Tips for Painting a Room One of the easiest ways to save money re-decorating is to paint a room yourself. It can cost anywhere from $200-$500 to have one room painted. Painting it yourself, you can do it for under $30. Here are some tips that we have used to save money painting: 1. Check your local hazardous waste recycling center for free or low cost paint. I’ve painted many rooms and pieces of furniture just by checking their free paint section. I painted my entire house for $45 using three of their low cost five gallon buckets of brand new but leftover construction paint. 2. Use an old sheet or spend $1.00 for one at a thrift store to use as a drop cloth. Sheets are heavier than the plastic drop cloths at the store and will last for many rooms of painting. Hang over a clothesline or fence to dry before folding and storing. 3. When removing the outlet and switch covers, put the screws back into the holes so they don’t get lost. You can also put the covers and screws in a zip top sandwich bag. 4. Line your roller pan by putting a plastic grocery sack or trash sack (inside out if it has writing on it) on the paint tray. Then you can just invert the sack when you’re done and throw it away. 5. Poke four or five holes with a nail in the groove on the top of the can. That way the paint doesn’t get stuck in the groove around the edge of the can and make a mess when you put the lid back on. 6. Use the paint at the bottom of the paint can when nearly empty to paint the trim. I got enough paint out of this “empty” gallon to do the entire room’s trim. 7. Don’t use painter’s tape. Painting is just like coloring inside the lines in school. Use a small, one-inch, angled paintbrush and slowly go around the edges. It takes less time than putting up and taking down tape. Keep a wet rag by your side in case you make small mistakes. Some tape also lets the paint bleed through, so it’s not a very clean finish. 8. Store your rollers and brushes in a plastic grocery sack between paintings. You don’t have to clean them after each use if you keep them from drying out. Refrigerate overnight or freeze them if you are going to not be painting for several days or weeks. 9. Turn the ceiling fan on in a room to speed up drying time. 10. When you’re done with your painting clothes, turn them inside out as you take them off. This way, you don’t accidentally get wet paint on anything but your head. After sending out a recent newsletter, we had several people email about these paint tips. Wow, I never knew painting could cause such a controversy! First about putting the rollers and brushes in a bag in the freezer or fridge if you aren't going to be painting for a few days. One reader said she ruined her meat because the bags broke down. When we say put them in the freezer we mean for a few days or weeks, not months or years! Also double bagging would be a good idea. Another reader said that she thought the fumes would not be good. I personally don't see a problem with this. If the bag is sealed then not much gets out. Another lady wrote about using a sheet as a drop cloth. I guess I didn't make myself clear. I use a sheet to cover things but on the floor where the paint is sitting I put extra newspaper, plastic or a shower curtain, vinyl tablecloth or anything else that is more durable under the paint in case it spills. The same reader said, "it's a better idea to tape the screws to the back of a wall or light switch plate or better yet, place them in a zip log bag with only these items in there. I have known many people to get a bit of a shock when trying to put the screws back in the electrical box and with a bobbling screwdriver have the head slip and BZZZZT! I did it ONCE and never again." Ok, I agree! When I said screw them back in I used my fingers and not the screwdriver. Nothing was sticking out of the wall and I wasn't poking anything metal into the socket. So use common sense on this one and either tape them on the back or screw them back in with your fingers. Here is a common tip for saving on paint that I don't think really saves: "Buy tinted primer to put up first. It keeps the paint, which is more expensive, from being sucked into the wall (especially if it's textured sheet rock that has never had new paint on it). If you're painting over a dark color with a lighter one it will help keep it from bleeding through." I hear this tip all the time and it makes no sense. They say it's saves time and money. How? You are still putting on two or three coats of something whether it's paint or primer. Unless it's had something like water or smoke damage or is a new wall why waste money and extra time cleaning brushes using primer? Just get two cans of paint instead and then you have some leftover if you need it for something else if you don't need the primer. If you need the primer get it but if not it really doesn't save money or time. If you spend $25 per gallon on paint and the primer is significantly cheaper, then go ahead, but I have never found expensive paint to be worth the additional cost over inexpensive paint. http://www.livingonadime.com/articles/ Return to top of page Small Bathroom Decorating Tips Author: Anna Hart If you are remodeling a small bathroom, these small bathroom decorating tips will help you make the most of your space. Take time to plan before you begin remodeling or redecorating. Layout and decorating ideas are important and simple plans are needed to make them work well. 1. Floor: Use large, light-colored tile on the floor. White or very light beige or gray floor will give a small bathroom the illusion of space. 2. Walls: Choose light colors for the walls. They need not be white or beige, but dark colors in a small bathroom will make the walls "close in" on you. 3. Sinks: Look for small, wall mounted sinks without vanities. These permit more of your floor to show. More visible floor space makes a small bathroom appear larger. 4. Cabinets: Choose cabinets that can be set into the wall. Cabinet doors or open shelves should be flush with the wall surface. Smooth, unbroken wall surfaces make a small bathroom appear longer and wider. Any cabinet doors should be painted to match the wall color. 5. Mirrors: Hang large mirrors. Mirrors reflect space, and make a small bathroom seem nearly double the size. Consider a large mirror above the sink, and one or more additional mirrors. 6. Bathtub: Your small bathroom may have a bathtub. Replacing it with a clear-glass-door shower stall will free space. Or choose a small, extra deep Japanese style bathtub. This comes in a near-square that frees space beside the tub for your wall sink. The tub is large enough for small children. Older children and adults can use as a soaking tub. Add a shower and curtain for rush times. 7. Accessories: RV suppliers sell great accessories for small bathrooms. Over-the-door towel bars hold multiple towels in a small space. Tissue box holders in clear acrylic mount on the wall, as do toothbrush and tumbler holders. Make a checklist of what is used in the small bathrooms of RV's. 8. Pictures and Plants: One of the most important small bathroom decorating tips is to use pictures and plants. Photos or prints mounted in "floating" clear frames can establish a decorating theme for a small bathroom. Two or three pictures of sandpipers on a beach, for example, can establish the use of sandy beige on the walls. Towels can be sandy beige with a border of marine blue. A shower curtain can carry through the theme. A green plant, live or silk, can be hung in a corner. Use a light-colored basket for an airy look. Tips for Organizing Bathroom Cabinets These tips for organizing bathroom cabinets will help keep your small bathroom looking great. Reduce clutter by reducing container size. Shampoo, lotions, etc. are more economical in large sizes, but do not put them in your cabinet that way. Invest in small travel-sized bottles. Small bottles take less space, and are easier to handle. Fill with lotions and shampoos, and arrange in small bathroom cabinets. Store larger containers elsewhere. Alternatively, attach a soap-shampoo-conditioner dispenser to the bath/shower wall. This frees the small bathroom cabinet of several items. Store cotton swabs and cotton balls in small stacking containers with lids. For multiple lipsticks, use a holder – some offer up to 24 compartments. As noted above, online RV suppliers offer solutions and tips for organizing bathroom cabinets. About The Author: ©2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about small bathrooms at http://www.easybathroomremodeling.com . Anna has posted several articles on that site about bathroom decorating. If you want to learn more about small bathroom decorating tips, visit Anna now. Return to top of page Do It Yourself Furniture Repair By Peter T Wax your furniture- to build up the finish, cover scratches or damages, and to obtain a more durable and long-lasting improvement than oil polish. Apply a hard paste wax with 0000 steel wool using a few drops of water to help emulsify the wax, and apply it as thinly as possible, rubbing with the grain of the wood. When finished applying the wax, let it dry and harden for an hour or so, then wipe off all excess wax with a clean, unused dry steel wool pad. Complete the waxing by buffing with a clean pure cotton rag, an old tee shirt will work well, or cheesecloth. Repeat the process and apply as many coats as you need to build up the finish on the furniture. Wax will not hurt anything, although it can dull a glossy finish. Wax can be removed readily with mineral spirits or turpentine, which should be done if there is a grimy build up. Recovering a dining room chair "slip" seat- A slip seat is padded over a plywood panel, about 1 1/2" thick, and held in place under the chair with four screws at the corners. Remove the seat, remove all the old fabric if the padding is thin or uncomfortable and strip away the padding. Glue with contact cement a 1" thick medium to high density foam rubber cut off even with the edges of the chair seat panel, and apply a 1/2" polyester batting over the foam rubber. Then apply your fabric over the padding with about 1" extra around the bottom of the seat, pull tight and tack in place around the corners of the seat, then pull inbetween the tacks and staple using ¼" staples (T-50 staples will work well), pulling the fabric tightly and evenly around the seat. Regluing a platform chair (with wooden seat)- A chair should be maintained so it is always tight. There should not be any wobbling or looseness detectable. A chair is a dangerous thing if not well maintained. A dining table can collapse and you will only lose dinner. A chair can collapse, and a person's back can be injured. You will need a least a dozen metal clamps about 24" or longer, a coping saw and pine or fir to cut for clamping brackets, and yellow wood glue or hide glue. Don't use epoxy or polyurethane glue. You should also have some mechanical aptitude to judge how the work is progressing. Removing grime from furniture- This should be done with sensitivity, or the finish may be damaged. Try on inconspicuous spots first, and see how it looks a day later before working on the entire piece of furniture. There are many different types of finishes, including oil finish, wax, lacquer (most common), varnishes, and shellac and they can be damaged by what you use to remove the grimy buildup. We will only describe a relatively safe technique for removing oily, waxy buildup from lacquer, shellac, and varnish finishes. Purchase a water base wax stripper, dilute it, and apply with a small cotton pad in an inconspicuous area. If the result is good, continue. If little result is obtained, try a more concentrated solution. Be careful that you are not damaging the underlying finish. Old varnishes can be soft and easily removed, and you may not want to go that far. Removing paint spatters from lacquered furniture- Try using xylene mixed half and half with mineral spirits. Apply with cotton pads, wearing rubber or nitrile surgical gloves. If this doesn't work rapidly enough, try full strength xylene. What Not To Do, unless you really want to Do It Yourself- Do not try to strip and refinish furniture in an apartment. If you manage to strip the furniture without getting spatters of remover all over other possessions and ruining them, you will most likely get sickened from the remover, or get dust all over everything you own, in all the rooms, from the sanding. REMOVE FINISHES AND SAND OUTSIDE, OR DON'T DO IT ALL. Do not iron clothes on your dining table, unless you want to refinish it. Do not remove or apply nail polish over a dining table, EVER! Nail polish remover is an excellent furniture finish remover, and a few choice spots, and that is what you will have to do. Do not fail to walk your dog, it needs one hour a day of exercise, and will make you suffer otherwise by nervously chewing on your furniture. Do not fail to have an interesting scratching and climbing post for your cat, or your furniture may suffer when you are not there. When you are there, try yelling "NO!" and squirting your cat if you catch it scratching something it has no business doing. Do not let guests sit in weak or too small chairs. Try a rope across the seat. Fat people love to sit in tight chairs to prove how skinny they aren't. Don't think nails, screws, or duct tape are the solution for everything. If they were not in the furniture before, they will only serve as a focus to break up the furniture further if it is loose. Do not let upholsterers or your building superintendant repair your furniture. A cabinetmaker knows how to do it, an upholsterer will make repairs you will regret and pay a cabinetmaker to fix later. Peter Triestman Olek Lejbzon & Co. Furniture Repair Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Peter_T http://EzineArticles.com/?Do-It-Yourself-Furniture-Repair&id=667777 Return to top of page

		A Tiffany lamp can transform a dark, drab room into a warm, inviting environment. Each piece of glass used to make these beautiful Tiffany lamps is individually cut, wrapped with copper foil and soldered together.

Tiffany lamps are featured and come in a variety of styles. Free shipping! Transform a dark, drab room into a warm, inviting environment with a Tiffany lamp.