Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Ottoman

O is for Ottoman

BGH

Ottomans can be used to bring in a fun pattern or bold color in to a living room or reading nook. If you have one already, pick up some fun discount fabric and recover it or find a cheap ottoman at a yard sale and buy some foam and fabric and give it a new look.

When buying stuffed furniture from a yard sale you'll always want to inspect the piece for odd smells, rips and bugs. If you do end up buying a piece you might want to have the stuffing replaced just in case.

Inspiration
Start creating!!

UrbanOutfitters, $89

Country Living

BHG

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Neutrals

N is for Neutrals

When in doubt use neutrals to design a room, you can not go wrong. Colors like browns, grays, tans, whites will blend with almost any other color. Use these colors on your walls, trim and floors and add more bold color in fabrics, furniture and accent pieces.

Here is some inspiration.

Better Homes and Gardens

HGTV

BHG

BHG

A is for Armoires
B is for Beddings
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps
M is for Mirrors

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Mirrors

M is for Mirrors

Better Homes and Gardens

Mirrors can bring light into an otherwise dark room, they can make a space seem larger and they can even pretend to be a window. Mirrors are a very useful design tool and you can acquire them rather cheaply.

Look for mirrors at yard sales and flea markets.

• Do not worry to much about what the frame looks like, focus more on the quality, shape and size of the mirror itself.

Ways to revamp a frame for a mirror.

• Create a tile mosaic out of old colorful plates.
• Spray paint the frame a metallic color.
• Upholster the frame with a decorative fabric.
• etc...

The possibilities are endless, have fun!

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens
L is for Lamps


Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony
D is for Dances

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Lamps

L is for Lamps

Better Homes and Gardens

Lamps can either accent your overall design or distract from it, here are a few tips on how to create or buy lamps that will blend with your design.

When purchasing a new lamp...

• Look for lamps with a simple color scheme on the base, it is easier to change the shade than the base when you want to change colors in your room.
• Find an interesting shade that has an accent color that you are using somewhere else in the room.
• Think scale when using a lamp, even though you love a certain large lamp, if your room is small the lamp will look very out of place.

Create ways to change a lamp you have or bought at a yard sale...

• Change the shade on the lamp by recovering it in inexpensive fabric, just remember to make sure that the fabric is flame retardant.
• Spray paint the base of the lamp with metallic spray paint.
• Add mosaic tile to the base of the lamp to give it a Venetian look.
• If you have a clear glass base, add sea glass, stones, or shells inside for a nautical look.

A is for Armoires
B is for Bedding
C is for Closets
D is for Dressers
E is for Etsy
F is for Flowers
G is for Giveaway
H is for Headboards
I is for Ivory
J is for Junk
K is for Kitchens

Attractive Weddings for Less
A is for Announcements
B is for Bridesmaids
C is for Ceremony

Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Kitchens

K is for Kitchens

Better Homes and Gardens

The kitchen is the center or every home, it is where we gather and share our days. They can also be one of the most expensive areas of the house to make over. But, there are ways to create a beautiful kitchen without busting your budget.

• Refinish your cabinets yourself. Here is a link to a article I wrote on eHow about refinishing kitchen cabinets.

• Add a decorative pendant over the sink for a burst of color, such as this one from Gregory's Lighting.
  

110-1FR - Elk Lighting 1 Light Pendant in Satin Nickel and Frosted Martini Glass $52.50

• Make sure your cabinets are maximizing their storage potential by using space saving essentials from the container store. After organizing your cabinets you may find that you do not need to expand your kitchen.
  

• Change the paint color. This is one of the cheapest and easiest ways to change any room.

• Add a tile backsplash, go your local tile store and ask if they carry remnants (left over tile from orders), these are usually marked down from their original price.

Better Homes and Gardens

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Elements of Decor A to Z Series: Junk

I'm back with...

J is for Junk


Whether we will admit it or not we all have junk in our homes. Some of us have a whole drawer or closet full of it. Junk can seem overwhelming at times and you may wonder how it even gets into your house.

Here are some ideas on how to get rid out all that junk:

• Throw it out
• Sell it on Ebay or Craigslist
• Reinvent it into something else. For example, broken plates can be used to create a mosaic table top.

When you have less junk in your house; your house will be more clean and organized and you will spend less time looking for things and more time enjoying your life.

Jax

We miss you Jax. Here is a video of Jax. May he rest in peace.

And the Winner is...

The winner of the $25 Gift Card to Lowes is...

Tiffani!

I have emailed the winner.

I Miss You So Much, Jax

I want to let all my readers why I have not been posting recently.

On Thursday morning my great dog Jax pass away suddenly from what we now believe may have been a brain tumor. He was only 6 years old and full of life. Aaron and I miss him so much it hurts, as do all the people who knew him well.

He loved playing catch me if you can, so agile that none of us people could catch him. He loved chasing squirrels along the fence in our back yard, even if he never catch them. He had a big bark but, would never hurt a fly. He was always the center of attention and always willing to break dance on the floor to entertain everyone. There are too many things that Jax loved about life and that we loved about him to list.

All I have to say is that we will always love him and miss him forever.

Giveaway Reminder

My 1st giveaway is ending soon. So I thought I would post a reminder for anyone would hasn't entered yet.

Click here to enter to win a $25 gift card to Lowes.

Today is the last day to enter.