A Few Simple Steps to Make your Garden Look Great

The reason that I enjoy gardening so much, not only for myself, but working in other people’s gardens is the transformation that can be done, sometimes in a relatively small space of time. As such offering garden services to others is a pleasure and not a chore.

The main reasons for people calling in someone to look after their garden is because they simply don’t have the time but also because they lack the knowledge that is required to transform a basic ordinary garden into a colourful and tidy place that you can lounge and relax in on those hot balmy days during the summer months.

I am often called into gardens that have let nature take over, the main structure of the garden is in place, but the beds and borders have been swamped by weeds. The lawn is growing into the beds as well; they have lost their way and need redefining.

Garden Lawn Care

The lawn will need to be cut, preferably with a good rotary or cylinder mower. Hover mowers are great if you have banks and slopes to contend with, but a rotary or cylinder mowers will give your lawn the nice cut that is required. Rotary mowers have an advantage over the cylinder mower in that they are simpler to use and generally the ground does not have to be 100% even. They are also easier to maintain than a cylinder mower. A cylinder mower is generally used if you want a bowling effect lawn, which most people do not. To finish the lawn off you must always cut the edges. If the edges need redefining then use a lawn-edging tool.

Garden Beds and Borders

Always ensure the beds and borders of your garden are kept tidy by regular weeding. This can be achieved using a long handled hoe. Although this can seem a bit of a chore it will later pay dividends. The main structure of the planting should be created using shrubs. Then you will have your perennial plants and finally for that splash of additional colour through the gardening calendar summer bedding, spring bulbs which can include snowdrops, crocuses, daffodils, tulips and many more. Also ensure that any shrubs are kept in check by pruning at the required times. For example spring flowering garden shrubs need to be cut and tidied after they have flowered. This will ensure new growth during the summer for flowers the following year. Be sure to place plants in an environment in which they will feel at home in.

Patio Cleaning

Patio areas need to be kept clean and tidy. This can be undertaken by the professional using specific patio cleaning equipment or by pressure washing. There are also many chemical cleaners on the market. Patio paving can cost a client large sums of money to have installed so it is worth looking after this area for longevity. Additional sand and cement mix brushed in between the paving may be required after either of the above processes.

Gravel Areas and Pathways

Keep any gravel areas free from weeds either by using a systematic weed killer or getting down on your hands and knees and removing the garden nuisances by hand using a trowel for example.

Things You Should Look Out For Before Doing Your Landscaping

There are many things that one should know about landscaping design overall, especially if you are planning on taking on a landscaping design project of your own. So many times I find landscapers struggle to find their design idea. However, once they establish a framework of necessary design elements, it usually goes pretty smooth from there. By taking the time to think of various basic questions, you'll realize that your landscape design plan will be more efficiently carried out with regard to effort, time, and cost.

Before you start your landscaping work, make a plan. Having a plan for your landscape lets you take advantage of common sense and economy when doing your landscaping. Without a plan, you may buy things you don't really need, and waste a lot of time and money, only to realize that you are getting no where. Begin by completing a rough sketch of your landscape design. Find out precisely what you require to make it possible. If you need suggestion, there are numerous websites where you can get lots of ideas of what you need to complete the task. Specialty stores and home improvement warehouses are places where you can get free advice from other experts on hand who can give you good pointers.

While planning your landscape design, remember to check on building codes and make sure that your plan is according to those complicated property lines. Check with your utility companies where the underground power, telephone, and cable wires are run. You do not want to hit one of these important things while digging around in your yard and building your landscape. Figure out all of this before you finalize your landscape plans. This can help you a lot of unnecessary trouble in the future.

If you are intending to add plants, think about what kinds of plants grow well in your area. You need to know what plants are local to your region so that your success rate of growing these plans is higher and your cost of maintenance is lower. You might really enjoy succulents, for instance, but if you live in a very wet area they might drown in all the extra water. Please be warn that maintenance cost for landscaping features such as water features and plant may cost you a bomb. For example, if the soil is not suitable for the plant you've grown, you may have to spend a fortune to fertilizer that plot of land, just to make sure that the plant is growing healthily.

If you're making your purchases at a big store, be sure to carefully inspect plants for diseases and insect problems. These stores are not always motivated to offer their plants the kind of care that a nursery would. If the plant you purchase is diseased, you'll have to get it all over again when it dies, and this means cash down the drain. Besides that, the disease or pest can spread to your other plants.

A useful tool in planning your landscape is landscape design software. This software can be used to figure out which plants may look good in your backyard, and which plants would go with your house. Some software even let you to scan in an image of your own house to get a better idea of the possibilities. It can also be used to find out which plants are best suited to live in your climate.

If you have to purchase any landscaping equipment, do your purchasing in stages. Your plan should include a timetable for when you will install each portion of your landscape. If you're like most people, you probably can't afford to make all the changes you want at once. Planning out your landscape project in stages allow you to buy what you need as you go, and when money is available. This helps you avoid the interest and fees associated with home improvement loans or putting your purchases on credit cards.

You should keep in mind that cheaper is not always better. If there is very minute distinction in quality, then buying the cheaper item is of course the best choice. However, if you compromise the quality for price, you may end up having many future problems. Fortunately, local stores often have seasoned experts who can share their wisdom for free if you ask questions while making a purchase. Specialty stores can also provide you with correct information on landscaping. If you are not experienced, you can save money in the long run by spending a little more for better service.

Time to Realize Your Dream Home

After grabbing that dream home of yours, the next real test is buying furniture for shoring up its prestige. Some diligence and you can actually get good bargains for your furniture needs. Read on to know how.

Your big dream of having a home that truly reflects your personality might just seem a reality. Now that you and your partner have truly moved into the spacious dream home, it’s time to get real and spend some extra dollars on the cool furnishings that would just add the required dimension to it. The type of furniture and its suitability in your house would actually measure the social status enjoyed by the family. In short, it’s time to realize your dreams.

Whatever you purchase, the first and foremost aspect is a detailed market research. It’s your hard earned dollars that are at stake and never feel satisfied unless you get what you require at a price that you can afford. Sometimes, it gets difficult to make the right choice after scanning all the available options in the market. The situation particularly gets more complex when you take into account the online dealers splashing their exquisite collection for sale on the Internet. In fact, Internet should be your first resort as far as market research is concerned. You never know from which part of the world you get a dream deal.

Planning for the precise furniture required for every room in your house is half the job already done. The beds and dressing table made by the deft artisans can make your bedroom speak volumes about the kind of persona you possess. Before finalizing the Amish made furniture, it’s always advisable to go through various catalogues and brochures available with the Wholesale Amish furniture dealers. With all the dimensions in hand, this would not only help in selecting the right furniture but also let you decide the furniture within your budget.

The basic material used in the furniture is always a vital consideration in your ultimate choice. Wood, fabric, iron content, aluminum and foam all add up to make the furniture article a lasting piece. The grace in the furniture is obviously another important feature but the hallmark of a quality furniture article is its ability to fight stains. Before buying furniture for your home, always make sure that the stain-free feature is always present in every article. This is because your furniture is the most vulnerable thing in your house. As far as the stains are concerned, furniture is the most risk-prone entity and must be given a thorough anti-stain coating regularly.

Your furniture must be a blend of modernity and traditional craftsmanship. While the modern furniture with provisions for gadgetry is vital for the comforts they lend, the traditional looks remind the furniture about its real identity.

Another important decision to be made is the brand-decision, i.e., whether you want expensive branded furniture or affordable but classy non-branded ones? If you are status-conscious and have those extra dollars in your pocket, always go for branded furniture as they come with a ‘tried and tested’ guarantee. But if your pocket is slightly less heavy, non-branded furniture is just right for you. A little knowledge about the kind of furniture you are about to purchase can actually help you in buying quality non-branded furniture.

Finally, it’s entirely your discretion as to how you decide to go about the furniture shopping. But when it comes to dressing-up your home, lesser the compromises, greater the gains!

Convenience of Ready-to-Assemble Furniture

Ready-to-assemble furniture is a viable alternative for the frequent movers. The convenience and budget-friendliness of the ready-to-assemble furniture makes them a hot item in the furniture market. Read on to learn more.


We live in a day and age where time is available only at a premium. People suddenly don’t find enough time to spend with the vital aspects of their existence. For instance, parents find themselves at odds with their children due to the lack of quality time spent with them. But the adults are not the only ones at fault. The problem lies with the fast-moving world where technology developments mean increasing workloads and constant movements from one place to another. Relocation means not only bodily relocation but peripheral relocation also. Your favorite furniture also needs to be constantly shifted. Here lies the problem because it may not be entirely feasible to move your exquisite every time the work demands relocation. The solution lies with ready-to-assemble furniture.

The instant furniture, as it can be so easily called, is the solution to your cup of relocation woes. The ready-to-assemble furniture generally comes in three pieces. Its main USP is the ease of transportation. Usually fastened with modified screws, the instant furniture is easy to assemble, dismantle and handle. Your life becomes more simplified by the do-it-yourself pieces, which when joined, transforms into a unique furniture article.

Ready-to-assemble furniture brings along other benefits in your life too.

Quality: Contrary to earlier beliefs, the quality of ready-to-assemble furniture is improving with several new players emerging in the market. Quality varies from wooden to metal pieces. Not so long ago, Amish furniture was not the toast of frequent movers but with changing times you can enjoy the luxury of compact Amish handcrafted furniture.

Variety: Ready-to-assemble furniture comes in a vast range to choose from. From office furniture to home furniture to outdoor furniture, this genre of furniture won’t disappoint you. The stylish ready-to-assemble desks, chairs, hutches, tables, conference tables, credenzas, bookcases, file cabinets, mobile carts etc. would leave you craving for more.

Price: What more? The easier to handle furniture items won’t make a very big hole in your pocket. Of course, the more you spend, the better will be the quality.

While ready-to-assemble furniture seems an easy option, yet there are certain cautions that must be followed to make your experience with your furniture a happier one. If the furniture seems too heavy, ask for the help of someone who can share the burden and place the furniture at the desired place. Generally, the dismembered pieces are not too burdensome to handle but still, in case of inconvenience, never shy away from seeking your partner’s help. The dimensions of any furniture are extremely important so that they can be easily shifted from one room to another without scratches and dents. If you can’t find the furniture of your requirements in the market, try to custom-made by placing an order with the desired dimensions. Always assemble the furniture in the room, which is the final destination, for the time being, of the furniture. Always read the instructions before assembly or dismantling.

Making The Right Decision While Buying Home Furniture

The market offers a large variety of materials to choose from when you are planning to buy furniture. Your decision should be based on research, taste, and the overall decor of your house.


While you would have spent hours, perhaps days, in making the decision on buying the right furniture for your home, there is bound to be some confusion in your mind in view of the large variety of choices available to choose from. While you are not to be blamed for the perplexity troubling your mind, it does help to make an informed decision based on good research and basic knowledge of furniture types.

Much depends on your outlook towards the various materials available that are vying for your attention. If you prefer wood that has been the choice of several generations and is known for its durability and class, you are amongst millions of people who want to own a piece of nature molded specifically to your personal needs. More so if you plan to own a piece of specially made wooden , it is bound to bring a class to your home that is otherwise hard to come by.

Wooden furniture is well known to last long, really long. For how many years have you been seeing that special rocking chair your grandfather used to spend his mornings on? Or the old, but still sturdy closet that you have been storing your clothes in since you were a toddler? So if you are the types who prefer that your children and their offspring as well remember their young days spent cradling in the comfort of the classic setting of your ancestral home, wooden furniture is definitely the way to be.

As far as wooden furniture goes, offers a class that cannot be ignored by any serious buyer. Whatever be your choice of wood, good definitely warrants a close look before making your decision. Known for its exclusivity and long lasting, sturdy designs, you will never regret having made your decision in its favor.

Now coming to the next choice – what if you are living in a rented apartment that you are going to move out from in a year or two at most, and would not like to lug your stuff along thereafter. In such a case, you would be better off investing in furniture that would last about as long as you desire it to- which in your case is just a couple of years. You could go in for decent wood laminates which offer the same functionality, while not being nearly as expensive as wood. It will save you the trouble of having to worry what to do with your furniture when you are moving as it would have lived its minimum life. The lower cost and life does not mean, however, that you have to compromise on design, as any good dealer will offer you a large variety of design to suit your tastes and needs. From modern to traditional, all types are available in this versatile material that also fits comfortably into any pocket.

If you are looking at pure smart prototypes to go with the latest designs, glass offers varieties that are hard to ignore. From simple glass tops to total glass molded furniture, you can choose depending on your individual taste. Colored, etched or smoked glass furniture is bound to add an elegance that reflects your panache and taste. A word of caution, however, for those with small children. Glass furniture may cause injuries as it is prone to breakage due to rough handling. Also do be careful that your purchase does not have any sharp or rough edges that have the potential to cause injury, besides the furniture looking ungainly and short of good taste.

More about some other alternatives in my next article. Be sure to sign in next fortnight to look up some other interesting options before making your decision.

Choosing The Right Furniture For Your Living Room

The living room is the place seen first and foremost by all guests – it is an important reflection of your taste and creates an everlasting impression on their minds. Spare some time and make it a true reflection of your graceful personality.

You have been thinking hard recently about how to refurbish your house to spruce it up and make it more smart and modern, but don’t know where to start? Worry not, for after going through this article you will have a fairly good idea of how and where to do the needful for giving that new look you to your house you so desire.

You can hire a good interior designer to suggest you themes and a layout for your house. The professionals usually have a good knowledge of what is available in the market to suit each budget and taste, and would be able to advise you on this aspect as well. They would probably be able to suggest a theme to suit your personal preferences and help you make your decisions accordingly.

Alternatively, you could use your own ingenuity and knowledge to save on costs, as hiring a professional can be prohibitively expensive. You would have to gain knowledge, though, and it would require some amount of time and effort to study the market and decide what you want.

Let us start with the room your guests are likely to see and appreciate first when they come to visit after you have re-decorated your pad – the living room.

Start with a theme – you can decide on a traditional or a modern look. While hand crafted stuff like bamboo furniture is more suited to the traditional look, the modern look and feel is accentuated by the use of smart wooden or leather furniture. A set of leather sofas adds a touch of class to any living room, and is associated with aristocracy and elegance. You can choose from a variety of colors such as black, brown, red etc to go with the overall look of your room. Choose black or dark brown for a touch of sophistication that gels with your overall image. Brighter shades like red or green would look good if you have overall designer settings. Even if the color of your set is a sober black or brown, you can add red leather recliners to add a dash of color to the settings.

Look at the placement of your sectional sofas next. Preferably, the largest piece; i.e. the three or five-seater, should be placed along the longest wall. If your settings are in a large hall, place your five-seater so that it does not constrict the entry and the exit spaces. Place the single pieces evenly in comparison to the three/five-seater. They can either be placed along one side of your living room, or placed one each on either side of the main sofa. The latter is better if you have another sofa set to place, or have a five-piece set that needs more space, and would balance out the settings. If you have a stand-alone leather recliner, it is best placed in a corner where it will go well with the sitting pattern. Children generally love recliners, as it offers them a degree of comfort exceeding the normal sofas.

Look for a smart center table to go with the overall settings. Glass tops are mostly preferred for their elegant looks and large variety in which they are available. A combination of a glass top and chrome-plated frame is the latest ‘in’ thing, and will definitely give that extra special look to your room.

So don’t just procrastinate. Go ahead and make a start, and I am sure you will soon end up with a living room you will be happy to invite your guests to

Exterior or Interior Wooden Door for Your Stylish Home

How many times would you take a second look when passing by a beautiful house? It’s not conventional to glance the second time around but beautiful houses are like beauties that deserve a second look. Similarly, a house with beautiful and stylish exterior or interior wooden doors makes you want to knock and visit the house right? Wooden doors are good attractions for many passerby and visitors. In fact, if your main entrance is a wooden door, you can tell how pleased your visitors are when they arrive in your porch and just imagine their fascination when they know on to that beautiful main entrance wooden door!




While these days, people who use metallic doors are increasing in numbers, the benefits of using the wooden doors are by par more practical and easy. That said, it’s important for you to be fully aware of your options prior to using wooden door against metallic doors:





Wooden doors and the specific making
From color to texture, the main wooden doors or entrance needs to be carefully considered. Understanding the basic type of wood would help you determine if you will be needing mahogany, maple, pine, hickory, red oak, walnut or white oak. Your understanding of what type of wooden door you’d like and how this door is made out will help you pick the best exterior, interior even your front or main door. Choosing the best type of materials used for your door is as good as keeping your wooden door for a longer period of time.

Wooden door and its style
Will you needing a wooden door with enhanced security features? Or you prfer a wooden door with a mix of metals? While you can request for combination for any customized wooden door making, it’s important for you to reconsider this option so you won’t compromise the making of the wooden door or destroy it good outlook. The need to carefully maintain it regardless of time and season will help your wooden doors last.

Ask the expert and get the delivery confirmation
If you ordered the wooden door someone else or from a manufacturer, make sure that the manufacturer’s service crew is with you when you remove and reinstall the door during that time. Understand that installing a wooden door requires the expertise of a trained crew so never attempt to do it yourself. Of course, when you place your order for the wooden door, even online or when you visit a physical store, you must be certain when the delivery would occur.

Time and expenses
Typical wooden door s may not be really that costly but if you are to enhance the wooden door with some security features, you will need to reconsider your budget. Also the type of materials used for the wooden doors matter a lot too. So to save money, make sure to scout for good wooden door especially that of your entrance. Accentuate the entrance wooden door with some accessories to add style and beauty to your front entrance.




Choosing the best wooden door for your home would enhance the style for your residence. In terms of cost and maintenance, wooden doors are easy to keep and maintain so rest assured that you will not experience much worries.

Three Very Short Steps to a New Living Room

Three simple suggestions that will help you revolutionize your living room.

So I was at a friend’s house the other month, a cute, turn-of-the-century bi-level in a southwestern college-town. You know the type: wood floors, an outside color scheme of olive and orange, pleasant backyard, etc. He opened the front door—wood, its plate-glass window with beveled edges—and let me in. And I couldn’t believe my eyes.

Did he actually live here? Could he? We stood in the entry foyer, which was completely empty of furniture, and I looked into the living room to my left. It was almost as though an alien had watched several films set in the 1970s United States, and had taken careful notes about the types of furniture humans have. TV: check. Couch: check. Coffee table, Barcalounger, second easy chair: check, check, check. But the furniture was just sort of strewn around the room (as much as a couch can be strewn, anyway), arranged haphazardly in a way that suggested the alien’s homemaking duties had been fulfilled as soon as everything had been purchased and delivered.

The friend I was visiting is an intelligent, dedicated individual, well-respected in his field and also not without a certain personal style. He’s a well-rounded person, and reasonably fir, psychologically (well, as much as anyone interesting ever is). So, why was his home in such disarray (if anything, things got worse in the other rooms)? And, more importantly, what could be done about it?

Since I don’t intend to use the Web as a forum for psychoanalyzing my friends, and given that I’ve talked since then with a number of people who feel similar degrees of disinterest in their physical environments, I think the latter question is the one to take up here. Specifically, I want to offer three thoughts about arranging living spaces with minimal extra effort.

Sure, there are about a hundred shows on TV dedicated to just this topic, but we all know that Trading Spaces costs a bundle; and the work they do there certainly requires a ton of time and effort. Following are three short tips for those who want to (or who think I might want them to) rearrange their homes a little, but who don’t want to think about it all too much.

1. Craigslist. Seriously, especially if you live in a big city or a city with a lot of students, there’s no need to buy furniture new ever again. Do you know your living room really needs a lamp behind the sofa, but don’t want to be overwhelmed by a billion glittering lights at the mall or at your local designer lamp boutique? Check out craigslist.org (or an equivalent service; there are several, many of them locally oriented) in your town or city. Just get online and browse the ads every now and then until you see something that appeals. This takes all the stress out of buying "home stuff," by the way. Instead of the whole "I’m on a mission; get out of my way, lady" mentality that’s hard to avoid if you’re seriously shopping for something, you can just check in from time to time to see if anything good has popped up.

2. Living spaces are for living in. Even if you have no friends, spend about three minutes imagining a lively conversation taking place in your living room. Then rearrange the chairs and sofas so that everybody (imaginary friends, if need be) can participate in that conversation at the same time.

3. If you make the TV the centerpiece of the room, the TV will be the centerpiece of the room! Nothing against television, but if you want people to actually talk to each other, it’s important to set up the space so that it makes talking easy. Most people’s default is to set up living spaces as little altars to the television, allowing everyone to see the TV at all times. If that’s what’s most important to you, of course, then I guess that’s okay . . . whatever. But if you want a little more human interaction, keep in mind that it’s your job to redirect people’s attention from the default position. So, don’t arrange the room around the TV. Arrange the room, and then figure out a place for the TV that will be more or less convenient.

Take these three suggestions, and they could revolutionize your living room. Most importantly, perhaps, they could revolutionize your living room with almost no real effort on your part. Happy minimalist rearranging!

5 Quick and Easy Ways to Make Small Rooms Feel Bigger!

Decorating small rooms can be quite a challenge, but there are some simple things you can do in a weekend to make the space seem to expand before your eyes!

1. Go buy the largest mirror you can afford, and place it in a focal area of the room, such as over a mantel, or over a sofa. Hang it a little higher than eye level to avoid reflecting clutter if necessary. If you can't afford a large mirror, drop by your discount store and dollar shop and pick up a few smaller ones to create a grouping of mirrors to accomplish the same purpose. I have decorative mirrors in almost every room of my modestly sized home, and when I take them down to paint or clean, I am shocked at how much more closed in the room feels. One mirror adds several visual feet to any room!

2. Don't leave your walls white! I know, that's not what you've always heard. White walls can be difficult to pull off in an interesting way, and they don't expand a room any more than light colors do, so add some personality! Paint your walls a light cool color, such as blue or green. Cool colors fool the eye into thinking the walls are farther away than they really are, while warm colors make walls seem closer. (Most whites used in homes are warm whites.) So bring in that pale blue or green!

3. Change your furniture arrangement. I don't believe there is any one formula that works for every room...some rooms will seem larger with the furniture against the walls, and some will seem large if you float the furniture out into the room. Experiment! If you don't want to spend a whole afternoon rearranging furniture (I know a good chiropractor!) then use graph paper to do it. Assign each square of the paper to 1 square foot. Draw in walls, traffic patterns, and other obstacle such as doors. Then cut out small pieces the size of each piece of furniture. Now you can use your furniture templates to move your furniture around on paper, to find the perfect fit for you, before you move a stick! Keep in mind, you still may want to make a change or two after you get it all into actual place. That's ok, us decorators change our minds too!

4. Remove all accessories that break up the space. This is the case where less is more. If two patterned pillows add the pizzazz you need, then don't add four. Use larger scale accessories instead of many smaller ones. And get rid of clutter! We tend to stop seeing the pile of magazines because we are used to them, try to look at the room with an objective eye. If your kitchen is small, don't store things on the counter, put them behind cupboard doors. Kids toys? Find inexpensive bins that can slide under the end tables, then cover with table cloths. If you don't love it or need it, get rid of it! (Don't keep an accessory out just because it fills space!)

5. This is the most underutilized tip for small rooms of all, but also one of the easiest! Keep all your windows and reflective surfaces sparkling clean! Don't believe me? Try it now, go clean that sliding glass door, then stand back. Looks bigger, doesn't it! Now do the same for the rest of the windows, tv screens, dishwasher fronts, glass over artwork and glass tabletops. The shiny clean surfaces both reflect light (which always brightens and enlarges a room) and creates a smooth surface for your eye to glide over, creating the illusion of more space! It works!

Five easy ways to enlarge the look of any room, and you can do it in an afternoon or a weekend!

Tips For Decorating Your Living Room on a Budget

In most homes, the living room is the place where most of the action happens. This is where you spend time together as a family and entertain your friends. Apart from the bed room, your living room is where you spend the maximum time in your house. It is no wonder then, that all of us want our living rooms to look good and be comfortable. However, with constant wear and tear, our living room starts looking drab, old fashioned and mostly in need of a change for the better. Unfortunately, redecorating even a single room in the house can prove to be extremely costly, and a situation involving redecorating your living room is no different. However, with our tips on redoing your living room, you can easily and quickly freshen up your living room’s decor without spending a huge packet.

Bring Out The Colors: Changing the color scheme of a room is an easy and inexpensive method of redecorating it. Choose a color scheme that is different from what your living room was sporting earlier. In order to give your living room paint a professional feel, mix and match two or three colors, paint one wall a different color or use dark colors for accenting certain portions of the room.

Go Green: Bringing in plants into your living room adds both color and life to the room. Adding greens to a room always makes it look classy and cool. Buy a couple of potted plants and arrange them in a corner of the living room where there is some light. You can also keep your plants in a dark corner and hang a lamp on top. This will not only make sure that your plants live; it will also result in a beautiful corner arrangement.

Add Space: If you wish your living room was larger than what it currently is, but can do nothing much about it, then putting up a couple of mirrors on the wall is the next best thing to breaking down walls. Mirrors add an illusion of added space, and if you do it correctly, you might just end fooling yourself about the actual size of your living room.

Cover Your Floors: Changing your dull or drab floor tiles or carpeting is an extremely expensive move. If you are fed up with your old floor, then buying carpets and multi colored rugs and placing them strategically across your living room will give your living room floor a new lease of life and color at a minimal cost. You can choose from a wide range of floor coverings depending on your budget and the theme of your living room.

Create Your Own Art: One of the cheapest methods of decorating your room is by using art work and decorative pieces that you have created yourself. Even if you are not very artistic, you can easily put together a collage of pictures, leaves or dry flowers that will look appealing once it is framed. You can also frame interesting pieces of fabrics or cushion covers to create a tapestry like wall hanging.

Add To Your Upholstery: While changing all the furniture in your living room, sofas, settees and chairs can be very costly, you can easily get the upholstery changed for a fraction of the price, and your sofas will once again start looking new. If you cannot find someone to do this for you, then you can shop around for throws, shawls and new cushion covers to give your seating space a new look for less.

How to Contemporize Your Living Room

If you’re looking to redecorate your living room by adding a contemporary and timeless look, consider adding new pieces of furniture. Easier than looking for new housing, redecorating can be a fun and worthwhile project that gives you a chance to change the look of your home. I’m not going to lie, shopping for the perfect furniture pieces can be a time consuming task, but it can be a lot of fun. There are plenty of furnishing options out there that will give your home a refreshing, contemporary feel without you having to go toward the modern sterilization route. In this three-part series, I’ll introduce you to the beauty that is contemporary furniture for your living room, dining room and bedroom.

Let’s start with the main room of your home, the living room. Living room furniture is supposed to illustrate a welcoming look for both you and your guests. Since we’re looking to add a modern dash of style to your home, it’s best to opt for something comfortable, simple, and a bit of color wouldn’t hurt. Couches like the ones from the Shelby Collection found on Eco-Furniture.com offer wide, soft box cushions and defining style that easily fits well in any home. And if you can afford it, it’s not a bad idea to purchase matching love seats and ottomans. Unless you’re an advanced level interior decorator who knows how to mix and match furniture pieces for an eclectic look, it’s probably best for you to stick with matching pieces and case goods.

Living room accessories like coffee tables, end tables and consoles will add to the new look of your home. If it’s a clean look that you desire, you simply can’t go wrong with dark wood. Dark wood or stained wood furniture has been a popular trend in the furniture market over the past few years. TheSoho Black Ash Living Room Collection, which can also be found on Eco-Furniture.com, is an excellent example of this beautiful trend. Creating an avant-garde look that won’t go out of style anytime soon, dark wood can be tricky but sophisticated feature for your home. Best kept for a few key furniture pieces like coffee tables, dining tables and dining chairs, too much dark wood can give your home a darkened appearance. With that said, it’s a good idea to limit just how much dark wood you want in your home.

Another solution you may want to consider when investing in a deep hue furniture item is finding one that’s been paired with glass. Glass adds an elegant aesthetic to just about anything, and pairing it with wood gives it an ethereal look, considering that wood is a very solid element.

Remember, just because it’s contemporary doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be minimal in style. Modern furniture doesn’t have to be intimidating; it can be just as welcoming as your mom’s old matronly, yet comfy couch. In our next installment, we’ll go ahead and talk about creating a contemporary flair to your dining room.

Design Tips For Decorating A Small Living Room

See how easy it is to get big style in small spaces with these decorating tips for small living rooms.


For gathering and entertaining, your living room is important, so you want to be sure it has a great interior design. But what should you do if the space is very small? Fortunately,decorating a small living room can be easy with the interesting room design ideas practiced today.

First, you must stick to an which you like but which will also suit a cozy area. One significant feature to avoid with small living rooms is clutter because it has a proclivity to make the room look significantly smaller.

Maximizing the area in your living room is key so take this into account when thinking about your design theme. A modernized design could be ideal, as this tends to enhance space and living area, instead of many items battling to occupy the same space. Take care to pick an interior decorating scheme you love since this is going to be where you spend the majority of your time.

One key piece of making your living room feel bigger is the color palette. Usuallu people are under the impression that that you ought to just use light paint colores in small rooms, but usually there is actually more to it than that. If you prefer bright or deep colors in your living room you can have it without making the room look small if you decorate with a monochromatic decorating theme, or one where the colors are of an equal brightness. For a scheme that is more colorful try blues and greens that all reflect an equal intensity or to achieve a calm and peaceful style pick a monochromatic color scheme of moss greens. If you'd like to allow for the illusion of depth paint the wall opposite the entry a deep, intense color. For wall paint colors, pale tones like gray-blue will create an overall larger look as they make the walls appear to recede. If you fancy something a lot of interesting, cool colors including blue, purple and green will have the same effect.

Don't forget when you are decorating a small living room to research where you are putting the furniture and accessories. While lots of people dismiss the qualities of Feng Shui, the ideas behind it could still be practiced when arranging the accessories and furniture in your living room. Be positive your furniture is not set close to the doors since this can truly open up the space. This should also help set off a larger piece of furniture such as an entertainment which can help the room look bigger.

When it comes to filling the room with furniture, stick to small or medium sized pieces. Using a love seat, in lieu of a large sofa, can make a lot of difference in space, but still allow guests to be comfortably seated. It makes sense to add appealing charm to your living room by mixing in a bit of larger scaled items, so why not use the small sofa but also use a large mirror or art piece, it is able to also add atmosphere to the room.

These philosophies could help you in your interior design adventure while decorating a small living room. Purely because your living room is less spacious doesn't mean it can't have the same top notch design style you see in big designer homes - it basically takes a bit of unique creativity.

Interior Design and Decorating Lighting Planning in your Home - General Considerations

General Considerations for Planning Lighting
General considerations when selecting interior lighting for new or existing spaces.

Light in the room needs contrast and/or shadow.

If it is too even then it will become bland and give little stimulation which leads to a boring and depressed feeling in the room (note this should not be confused with an office or studio or classroom which may require a bright overall ambient light for concentrated work).

Consider texture in the light effect. A strong direct light on to a heavily textured fabric or wall of stone or grooved timber will flatten it, so what is the point in having the texture.

This note relates directly to features. Features usually have to be given special treatment concerning lighting to bring out the best in the feature and to help others notice it in the overall look of the room.

Remember that the lighting is there as the accent to your interior design. It is not just function, it shows the form.




Picture lights obviously highlight pictures, and they add lighting to the perimeter of the room, helping to define the outside dimensions of the room.




Picture lights obviously highlight pictures, and they add lighting to the perimeter of the room, helping to define the outside dimensions of the room.
When deciding on the interior lighting for a room, consider these questions: What kind of mood should the lighting create? What different activities take place in the room? What decorative elements do you want to attract attention to?

In general, to create an inviting atmosphere use five to ten light sources in every room.

To simplify your interior decorating decisions, there are lighting collections available with the same finish and style for pendants, chandeliers, wall-mounted sconces, as well as floor and table lamps. Using fixtures from the same collection within a single room creates a unified look and can save a lot of time searching.

To make rooms interesting, vary the height of the light sources in the room. The differing heights add depth and interest by creating separate areas of light and shade.

In most rooms, you should allow for varying intensities of light. Add dimmer switches or use three-way bulbs in lamps for flexibility. In addition, alternate switching patterns between general lighting, task lights, lamps, and accent lighting.
For example, while you are preparing food for a dinner party, you will need task lighting instead of accent lighting, but when the guests arrive, you will want to be able to switch off the task lights and turn on the accent lights.
Remember, because dark colours absorb light, you will need to use more lighting in rooms decorated with dark colors than rooms with light colors.

When lighting a room from the ceiling due to the ceiling's reflectance the room appears larger.

Conversely when lit from the floor or table lamps the room will feel more intimate.

Wall reflectance in large rooms is usually unimportant because of the rooms very size the walls will always seem distant however in a smaller room wall lighting is significant as it will appear to increase the size of the room, depending on the colour, or bring the walls in closer by causing focus on them.





Candles and Candelabra provide little light but the naked flame creates warmth and a romantic mood.


Why does directed light create mood more than overall or ambient light? Because it allows focus as well as illumination. With these two tools, features that evoke mood can be enhanced or reduced in their appearance.

Tricks include:
Concealed lighting. E.g. Behind pelmets to shine down drapes, lights fixed under tables eg side tables, lights fixed under permanent furniture eg cabinetry, or lights fixed under a couch, easy chair or coffee table.

Candles and Candelabra
These give little light but the mood is created by the focus on the candle and its holder as well as the warmth of a naked flame. Ideal for creating a romantic feeling in a bedroom or dining room.

To summarize, there are numerous factors to consider when selecting interior lighting. The interior decoration of a room, the furniture placement, the function and activities to be performed in the space as well as budgetary and aesthetic issues.

As long as you approach the task in a methodical manner, it should all be straightforward. Write down all the influencing factors, needs and wants for each room, use your plan and then set about creating the lighting for each space.

Interior Design and Decorating Lighting Planning in your Home - The New Room

The New Room Interior Lighting Planning
Before you embark on purchasing or deciding the lights that you prefer, look very closely at the room.

It is essential to have your furniture plan worked out before deciding on the light fittings and fixtures positions.

Allow for some general light, this is a light that is an overall source.

The general light has not had its light focused into a beam or set in a particular direction.

The light shines in all directions from its source without obstruction, glass and translucent shades are included in this.




A central light source on the ceiling providing general light for the room. It does make the room appear small as it does not highlight the corners of the room.

Then allow to highlight focal points with directional light, this is light that is focused and forced to travel in a particular direction by either a reflector or baffle. This may be a spotlight of any sort or a lamp with an opaque shade (not translucent) so that the light goes in a particular direction.





An option to make general light softer in a room is with reflected light, this is light that is bounced off another object usually a wall or a ceiling or it can be part of a fitting or bulb. It comes from a directional light source usually but has the light diffused by the reflection.

Rather than a spotlight shining directly onto an object the light is bounced off a wall or ceiling to subtly and/or softly illuminate rather than the full intensity of directional light.

Uplighters and downlighters are forms of spotlights that rely on the reflected light off the floor or the ceiling, although note that a downlight can be used to illuminate an object directly at a pinch.

Downlights come in all sorts of forms that give a narrow beam that spreads down to the floor. They are recessed or semi recessed and may be a feature or extremely discreet. Some have baffles or reflectors and are able to be angled to direct light to wash a wall i.e. a wall washer.
Uplighters can be freestanding or may be mounted directly to the wall and either fully shrouded or have a translucent shade giving an overall ambient light as well as a reflected light.

Interior Design and Decorating Lighting Planning in your Home - The Existing Room

The Existing Room
A number of options exist to illuminate the room without having to change fittings that are hardwired or permanent features and fixtures.

Using freestanding lamps and uplights we can enhance and focus on the features mentioned previously.

The Table Lamp
These come in all forms and sizes, and the shade can be a feature or selected to blend in with the existing decoration.
The lamp can be used to illuminate a corner or as a task light beside a chair for reading, writing or needlework.


The ideal positioning of the lower edge of the lampshade should be at eye level when you are seated - varying between 970 mm and 1007 mm above the floor.
Other features of the simple table lamp are that it gives three forms of lighting; uplight / downlight, task light or ambient background light.

This is especially useful if the lamp is attached to a dimmer.





The lamp can be used to illuminate a corner or as a task light beside a chair for reading, writing or needlework.


This is similar to left but is used more for placing in corners to make a room feel larger, or dividing up spaces when placed between two sofas for example.





The Free Standing Lamp
This is similar to above but is used more for placing in corners to make a room feel larger, or dividing up spaces when placed between two sofas for example.

DIY Home Lighting Design and Planning for Your Home's Interior Designs

Designing for interiors is a balance of all elements.

I believe that lighting is the one element that can make or break an interior design.

Lighting is the one element that can be altered, even after the floor coverings are down and the paint is dry.

With a little clever and thoughtful planning, your room can be versatile with different effects and moods able to be created.

Planning the Room (Designing Home Lighting)
Initially you will need to measure the room and draw a very basic layout of where items are to go, including furniture, drapery, windows, artwork, feature walls, audiovisual equipment and the seating arrangement.

These are all areas that can be a feature or focus of light or light source and should be treated with that in mind.





A directional halogen downlight illuminates the picture grouping.



From left uplight and down light at bookcase, a picture light over the picture, a low pendant over the desk, a freestanding lamp behind the desk, and freestanding uplight lighting the ceiling behind the chair, a directional spotlight lighting the plant.


Of course, this is easy if planning from scratch, but a lot more difficult if you a trying to enhance an existing room as you already have hardwired lights. If the room's layout can be altered, then try to use a flexible lighting system.

For example in a living room or family room the furniture positions can easily change therefore its probable that flexible task lighting will be required as well as the overall lighting system.


The interior decoration of the room is also prominent in your choice of lighting. Remember dark flooring and walls soak up light. Polished surfaces often create glare, light colored walls and floors reflect it.

Interior Design Lighting and Decoration of your Home, Ideas, Advice and Examples

Lighting is often left to the last minute and hasty decisions are made.

Lighting should be considered along with the space planning and decoration planning as it relates directly to how each space is perceived.

You could have the best decoration in the world but unless you have made provisions to light it it could disappear into oblivion.

Poor lighting selection can wash out colour and texture, and make the room look less than ordinary.

Where as careful considered lighting selection can greatly enhance even the simplest of interior design features.


We have some simple advice for lighting your home in the following articles.

But never forget, you can work out your lighting requirements yourself, but sometimes it is prudent when spending a lot of money to hire a professional to provide advice, or check your selections and add their recommendations.

Simple to Remember Guidelines to Choosing Colors for Kitchens

How do you choose what colors will work for your kitchen design?

It’s easier than you think. Once you eliminate what won’t work, you are left with a simple palette to choose from. So here are a few ways to filter out colors from your kitchen.

Color for Small Spaced Kitchens

Don’t use dark timbers and colors that will make the space appear smaller. So avoid dark reds, purples, dark blues and greens.

Look for clear crisp colors or whites with a tint of blue, green or yellow for a subtle background of color. Keep cabinetry simple and unadorned and avoid clutter as it will create chaos in a small kitchen.


Color for Large Open Plan Spaced Kitchens

Don’t make a huge contrast in color to the remainder of the décor in your home unless you want your kitchen to visually dominate the living space. Choose a color that flows with the single open plan space. Generally open plan living uses one color for the walls and has small pockets of color to define specific areas within this.


Open plan spaces predominately use white as a wall color and then add color and texture to that. So colors that would work in a large open plan spaced kitchen are mottled, textured neutrals, whites, grays, black and silver metallics, materials like Corian, granite, laminates, stainless steel and tiles.

Then use color in accessories, flowers, jars, vases, pendant light shades, bar stools, pictures etc to provide focal points and pockets of color.


These kitchens are small functional and compact. They generally aren’t a feature of the home simply a necessity and often use colors and textures to blend into the space and encroach as little as possible.

Most apartments are strapped for space and don’t have an abundance of natural light so bright light and clear colors tend to work best. Once again neutrals, whites and grays with accents of clear crisp colors, teal, apple green, hot pink, citrus yellow in small forms. Therefore the timeless all white kitchen works well with white appliances or for a modern look, soft metallic gray with stainless steel appliances is sleek and functional.



Color for Standard Typical Spaced Kitchen

Yippee!! Anything goes…. Obviously as long as it suits the style of your home and kitchen you can use any colors you like. The only thing to be weary of is lighting.

If you have a lot of natural light and well planned task and feature lighting then the colors you use can be strong and bold and you will still be able to see and the kitchen will be highlighted but if you have little natural light and poor lighting then either upgrade it or choose lighter more light reflecting colors.


Color for Outdoor kitchens


Yes the latest fad – not only is it trendy, but a fun way to use color outside. Think about the plantings that you have. Add some panels of bold colors to contrast. For example red flowers add a purple panel behind them to highlight the flowers and greenery. Add fun colored upholstered squabs or cushions to outdoor seating – hot pinks, burnt oranges, teal and crisp green apple.

For more color ideas for your kitchen look at the specific style of kitchen that you have, traditional, contemporary, country.

Make the most of color, use it, don’t get obsessed with it – step back and visualize your kitchen and how it will look, use brush outs (large cards of paint colors) to hold up in the space to see how the color works at different times of the day with different light. Start gradually and build up color.

If you are in doubt, stick to neutrals and layer gradually. Add color until you get the look you want. After all haven’t we been told for generations from the real estate agents that white is best in the kitchen as it is the color of purity and cleanliness and the most versatile and the best kitchen color for resale!

Contemporary Style Kitchens

Contemporary styled kitchen’s characteristics are their efficient use of space, their simplicity of form and openness.

The cabinetry is simple with little or no decoration; it is often made of prefinished board like laminate, a pale timber veneer, or a lacquered paint MDF board.

The use of glass in overhead cabinets is common and lighting plays a major role.


Cabinetry lighting is a feature especially in glass-fronted cupboards and under overhead cupboards to allow light to fall on the counter top.

Halogen is the preferred type, as the fittings are small and provide a lot of light and they literally make everything sparkle. Pendants over breakfast bars or islands are popular.




Windows in the kitchen are functional and generally not decorated unless with a functional blind to reduce the direct sunlight or provide privacy. Color is what makes contemporary style kitchens popular, reds, blues and bright colors. The color is often in the decoration, not the cabinetry. The walls are painted, colored tiles used as a splash back behind the sink or behind the cook top. Accessories are colored and can be changed regularly to create a new look.

The contemporary kitchen is functional and versatile. The appliance colors can be selected from white the most traditional, to black the most sophisticated or stainless steel for a clean hygienic modern feel.


The contemporary styled kitchen is a low fuss easy care kitchen that has products specified for easy cleaning and low maintenance. Vinyl flooring is popular for it’s easy clean and hygienic properties as well as cost effectiveness. Tiles are popular and new eco flooring options are creeping in for example laminate timber flooring strips, they look like timber but they’re not!

Contemporary styled kitchens covers a vast array of looks, it works well in most modern homes today and is an ideal style for remodeling and renovating your kitchen as it can be changed to create different looks with a minimum expense through colored accessories.

Country Style Kitchens

Country styled kitchens are difficult to define exactly as they have an eclectic feel, which means that they have all sorts of bits and pieces from differing styles and periods combined to create the country look.

There are also regional styles that are probably more well known like French Provincial Country Style or Old English Country Style, Colonial American Country Style. They all bring a similar feeling to the style, that of a safe, warm and comfortable homely ambience to the kitchen.


Generally timber is a major feature either in the cabinetry and or the flooring and the furniture.

Timber counter tops are popular or simply a mobile timber island or cutting block.

The finish to the wood is simple and often a white wash or distressed look is used over the wood to create a weathered or aged feel.

Most country styled kitchens have room for a kitchen table and chairs.

Usually in timber or wood, with a plaid or checked upholstery.

The preferred timber types are pine, maple or the local wood in plentiful supply.



Pot racks – generally metal, and timber chopping blocks are features and numerous other forms of display for cooking utensils and jars of sugar, flour, salt and condiments etc.

The country kitchen lacks order and symmetry but it does possess visual movement and controlled clutter. The style allows for combinations of accessories and wrought ironware, copper pans, ceramic plates and jugs, different patterns in fabrics and collectables. They are functional and homely. Many finishes are different, combining timber with painted tiles, metal work and ceramic, as long as there are no high contrast clashing combinations – the country feel exists.


The prevalent colors are creams and whites combined with natural timbers and light browns. Highlight colors are dependant on which country style you follow but in general, reds, earth greens, blues are popular and common colors in plaids and checked fabrics.

The American Country Style is typified the the colors of sun aged barn reds and dusky blues, patchwork upholstery and painted floor boards, floor cloths and matchboard wainscoting, stenciled motifs and artwork and simple rag rugs.

French Country Style or Provencal or French Provincial is defined by the Provencal print of fabric which features warm sun drenched color schemes of bright yellows, pinks, reds and blues. The walls are often white washed or color washed in natural tones of ochre, russet, honey or rose. The flooring is predominately terracotta tiles and the use of timber is prolific with simple functional, rustic designed furniture. Metals feature in accessories, wrought iron cabinetry handles, pot racks, plate holders and candelabra and shutters to the windows.

English Country Style is a weathered and well-used look. An elegant yet old and faded look, still homely with the generational comfort of unchanged history and style. Worn floor rugs, needlework cushions and upholstery on timber kitchen chairs, faded floral chintz drapery at the windows. Soft subtle mellow colors, creams, pinks, generally warm colors as kitchens were often in colder areas of the house. Display of condiments, preserving jars and always some sort of flowers, either wild flowers in a vase of flowers and herbs hanging over the stove to dry.