Coffee Table Decorating

Use & Style. Before purchasing a coffee table, think about its purpose.  Are you going to want a table with extra storage? Will it be in a room with a lot of traffic? Do you want a table that will last a long time or are you okay with a table that will last a few years?  If you have children, you may want a table that is difficult to scratch.  In addition, when shopping for a table keep in mind what room decorating ideas you’ve already implemented in your space.  You will want a coffee table that matches the general style and decor of your living room.

Round Coffee Table

Shape. You will need to decide what shape coffee table you will choose.  Rectangular and oval tables look good in smaller rooms whereas square and round tables are great for larger seating arrangements.  Round and oval tables bring more flow to a room than rectangular or square ones, but the latter two provide more space on the table itself.  Some people prefer round or oval tables if they have little children, as these tables lack sharp edges.

Size. Your coffee table needs to work with the seating arrangement of your living room.  It shouldn’t be too high or too low compared with your sofa and chairs.  The length of the coffee table should be between one-third and two-thirds of the length of your sofa.

Wood Coffee Table Decorating

Material. When choosing a material, go for something that you like and that matches your home decor.  Wood tables are quite common and can be beautiful but if you are going for a more modern look, you may want a metal or glass table.  If you are choosing a wood table, remember that hardwoods (like oak, walnut, maple etc) last longer than softwoods (pine, cedar).  Metal tables made out of stainless steel are quite strong and durable.  Glass tables are also a popular choice, especially for small rooms because they allow light to shine through, thereby creating a more spacious feel.

Many people don’t put a lot of time or effort into their coffee table decorating.  But you won’t regret choosing your table with care, as it may just be the most used and useful piece of furniture in your home!

Bohemian Living Room from Canadian House and Home

Bohemian style is all about creating warmth and interest.  It is a busy, cluttered style with a lot of interesting things going on.  There is a lot of freedom with this style and many room decorating ideas to choose from.

Regarding color, think rich, warm and deep.  Bohemian styled rooms usually have multiple colors; although a general palette should be chosen to create some kind of cohesive look.  The walls can be painted red, orange, blue, purple, deep brown or any other  rich color.  Stay away from neons or colors that are very bright, like white.  Warmth is a key factor.  Walls can also be covered with colorful tapestries and art. Pay attention to the colors of the rest of the room.  Use a few multi-colored area rugs for the floor to create diversity.  If you are decorating a bedroom, don’t forget to choose colorful blankets and linens.

Bohemian furniture is unique.  Look for pieces that stand out on their own, or that you can make stand out with some paint.  Victorian sofas are great for bohemian decor, but you can also take a regular couch and throw on an elaborate tapestry.  Flea markets are great for finding bohemian furniture!

The most fun part about bohemian decorating is accessorizing.   Accessorize with objects that have meaning or look like they were from around the world. Aged photographs, ornate boxes, mirrors,  vintage perfume bottles and giant pictures are all great choices.  Things that look like they are from around the world, like animal statues, figurines or maps, are also great choices.   If you can’t afford the real deal, try imitations like a knock-off Persian rug.

Accessories that sparkle also go well with this decorating style.  Try glass beads, crystals hanging from lampshades and shiny light fixtures that give off a warm glow.

Decorating in bohemian style is definitely fun.  It is a chance to let your imagination and creativity run free…so enjoy!

If you have any pictures of rooms that you decorated using bohemian room decorating ideas we’d love to see them! Send your pictures to roomdecoratingideas@gmail.com.

Who says your dorm room can’t feel like home…or even better? Even if you are initially repulsed by stark white walls, ugly floors and outdated furniture, the right dorm room accessories can make your space fun and comfortable.  Here are a few dorm room accessories you won’t want to leave home without!

A Cork Board. A cork board (or bulletin board) is a great place to hang you class schedule, memos, pictures and calendar.  The great thing about cork boards is that they can add tons of decor and personal style to your room.  You can cover the board with a funky material from a fabric shop or by “recycling” an old t-shirt or sheet with a pattern you love.  Cork boards can also be painted, decorated with ribbons or colored paper.  All you need is a staple gun and some glue. Painting the frame of the cork board (or adding one if it doesn’t come with) is another awesome dorm room decorating idea.

Bed Pockets. Everyone knows that in a dorm room space is sacred, so make sure to utilize all the extra space you can! One way to do this is with bed pockets.  Bed pockets are pieces of fabric that attach to your bed and are great for holding odds and ends like books, hair accessories and other small items you may want at bedside.  They are fantastic if you don’t have a nightstand, and if you do, they will help ensure that it doesn’t get too cluttered.

An Awesome Rug. Most dorm rooms don’t exactly come equip with beautiful wall to wall carpeting or hardwood floors.  There is no better way to make your room stylish and homey than with an awesome rug! This is an essential dorm room accessory.  Since area rugs come in all different colors, styles and textures, finding one that is exactly your style shouldn’t be too difficult.

Wall Art. Fabric wall hangings, wall decals and posters are all great room decorating ideas for your dorm.  Search through fabric stores or second hand shops for interesting, attractive fabrics for your wall.  Fabric hanging can be large enough to cover an entire wall, which can be handy because most dorms don’t allow painting.  Wall decals are great for your dorm room because they add a lot of color and style to your walls while peeling off easily without removing paint. Framed poster art is another stylish, affordable option.

Full Length Mirror. A full length mirror is important for the obvious reason that you want to look great.  Also, a lot of dorms come with mirrors that are too small and/or only in the bathroom.  Even if your dorm room already comes with a mirror, there is not reason not to have two! Mirrors give small rooms the illusion of space and allow more light to shine through.  They are an easy way to add depth to a small dorm room.

Try these stylish dorm room accessories and feel comfortable and chic in your home away from home.  For more dorm room decorating ideas, click here.

There are many ways to design the walls of your baby’s nursery.  You can paint, wallpaper, decorate with wall stickers and much more!

A fresh coat of paint can add style to any nursery wall decor.

Nursery Wallpaper Ideas

Apply wall stickers for nursery decor that is easily removed and replaced.

Add decor to your nursery walls with stencils.

Frame art from children's books for stylish decor for your nursery on a budget!

Turquoise is Pantone’s color of the year.  This makes me very happy as turquoise is my favorite color, hands down.  The reason turquoise was chosen is because it is considered a happy color and reminds us of beautiful tropical oceans far off in some Caribbean paradise.  It is a serene color and according to Pantone “turquoise reminisces of the waters of the sea, renewing our sense of well being”.

Why save the beautiful tropics for vacations only? Bring the depth of the ocean into your home by incorporating turquoise into your decor.  Turquoise can be combined with dark and light colors and bring some cheer into any room.  Don’t be afraid to combine it with reds, pinks, white or browns.  If you are feeling more daring, you can even try combining it with yellows or greens.  I love the bold turquoise wall paper featured here from crownwallpaper.

Turquoise Decor

If you want to add some turquoise room decorating ideas to your home without making too much of a change, try some accessories.  It’s easy to find area rugs, throw pillows, lampshades and vases with turquoise hues.  You can even turn turquoise into a focal point with beautiful accessories such as this adorable ceramic monkey.

Do you want to get the look? Click on the items below to shop for the hottest color in 2010!

White Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Decorating a room can often be overwhelming.  There are so many patterns, colors and designs to choose from!  For this reason, one of my room decorating ideas is creating a white room.

The best room to give an all-white makeover is the bedroom. Since white gets dirty really easily, it is best to keep your all-white room one that won’t be getting too much traffic.  Your bedroom will probably get minimal traffic (compared with the rest of the house) and is usually a place where you don’t allow food or dirty shoes!

Keep in mind that there are many shades of white.  When decorating a white bedroom, it is important to match and coordinate the different whites just as you would with other colors.  White comes in off white, ivory, eggshell, cloud white, ballet white, ghost white, snow white, ice white and much more!  So it is important to pay attention to the subtleties in the “whites” you choose.

There are so many ways to bring white into a room! Many people often already have white walls, but there is still so many more white room decorating ideas.  For your bed you can add white bedding and throw pillows as even paint the headboard white.  Other bedroom furniture, such as your dresser, night table, desk etc., can be purchased in or painted white. Don’t forget about the windows! Airy white curtains are beautiful, especially in the summer.  Try hanging some wall art framed in beautiful white frames made of lace, or paint some picture frames that you already have.  A white area rug on the floor can help complete the look, especially if your not a big fan of your bedroom flooring.

White Bedroom Decor

White is not really a color, rather it is the absence of color.  Therefore decorating in white turns your room into an empty canvas that anything of color would stand out on.  Adding a little bit of color to an all-white room really goes a long way (so don’t overdo it).  Choose carefully and thoughtfully which area of the room you want to accentuate with color and how.  Choose only a few attractive room decorating ideas that will make your bedroom look great.

There are many more white bedroom decorating ideas out there to create the serene, airy beautiful bedroom you’ve always wanted.  Remember, sometimes the best room decorating ideas are the simplest ones (color-wise at least!).

General Indirect Light. Recessed lighting is a great way to provide your kitchen with neat general lighting. It is a modern alternative to general overhead kitchen lighting that is much more efficient and doesn’t involve any annoying dangling cords, lightbulbs or lampshades. Recessed light fixtures, bulbs and wiriting are all installed inside the ceiling and turned on through a switch. They are a wonderful way to add indirect, discreet general light to your kitchen.

Direct Light. Pendant lights are one of my favorite room decorating ideas. There are a few reasons for this. First of all, they literally bring light down from the ceiling to just about head level. They can also be used to spotlight a specific area like around the stove over a kitchen island. It might be best to combine pendant lights with general overhead kitchen lighting so that you can illuminate the space in general while allowing specific areas to be highlighted. What is the best thing about pendant light? The fixtures come in gorgeous designs!

Targeted Lighting. A common problem with lighting in the kitchen is that it might not be where you need it. Maybe you have a lot of light over the sink, but none near the stove. A lot of kitchen have dark patches which can be very annoying when trying to prepare food or clean properly. If you are having trouble seeing properly while chopping veggies, try placing lights under your cabinets. Low-voltage xenon bulbs give off beautiful golden light and will glow under your cabinets. Although they are a bit warmer than fluorescent lights, they are cooler than halogen and incandescent bulbs. Xenon light strips can be set to high or low and have removable light covers for easy cleaning.

Hidden Spaces. It is true that most people won’t go looking through your cabinets, but keeping them neat and organized will help you find things easier and feel better about your kitchen in general. That’s why one of my favorite kitchen lighting ideas is putting lights inside your cupboards! Many people have dark cupboards in their kitchen that gets messy and cluttered because it’s impossible to properly see things in it- especially all the way to the back. A solution to this problem is so simple. For only a few dollars you can purchase a battery-operated light that can be stuck onto a wall. This way you don’t even have to install a new light fixure or deal with wires. Just don’t forget to turn it off when you close the cupboard to avoid killing the batteries!

These are just a few kitchen lighting ideas.  Did you implement any creative lighting solutions in your kitchen?

The Bed

To update your bed for summer, put away those flannel sheets and heavy comforters.  Summer is the time for crisp bed linens made from breathable fabrics such as cotton.  Avoid using sheets made from synthetic fibers, as they tend to keep the heat in.  The color of your bedding is also important in creating summer ambience in your bedroom.  White is a great choice for your summer bedroom’s linens and covers. You can also play around with floral prints, light greens and yellows or anything else that gives your bedroom a light, summery feel.

Storage

Summer is a time for less of everything- less clothing, less blankets, and less clutter.  To clear your bedroom of unnecessary clutter, try using stylish storage solutions that are perfect for summer! Wicker, bamboo and raffia storage boxes and night tables are great for adding a summery feel to your bedroom while keeping odds and ends from taking over your space.

Windows

Summer Bedroom Decorating

Light is an essential part of any summer decor.  Dark shades or curtains should be exchanged for sheer drapes (or taken down altogether) to allow more light to shine through.  Choose white, neutral or pastel curtains.  You can also keep the windows open whenever possible to let in the fresh summer air.

Accessories

Summer is the time to get rid of your heavy winter accessories, like rugs and draperies.  Instead fill your bedroom with accessories from the great outdoors! Bamboo plants, cut flowers and other greenery can create a refeshing atmosphere in your bedroom and can bring in a pleasant scent.  Other accessories can also be exchanged for more summery ones.  If your wall art is dark or heavy, try hanging a piece with brighter, paler colors.  Dark objects such as decorative bowls or candlesticks can be exchanged for clear ones made of crystal or glass that allow light to shine through.

Bringing summer into your bedroom for summer can help you be more relaxed and comfortable while facing those hot months.  So take the time and give your room a summer makeover today.

Curtains Design

Color is one of the most important things to look for when looking for curtains design.  If you aren’t planning on redecorating your whole room, it is important that your curtains match or blend on some level with the rest of the colors you already have in your room.  Neutral colors tend to complement furniture and wallpaper colors.   Solid color and patterend designs bring more attention to the window.  You may be looking to spice up your room with bold, colorful curtains. They are a great way to turn your windows into a focal point.

How long you want your curtains to be is another consideration.  If you have a small space and want to make it appear taller, try floor to ceiling curtains.  In larger spaces, you may opt for short curtains.  Nothing makes a statement, though like super long curtains that pool on the carpet- but they should only be hung in rooms that are large.

You also want to consider how a room’s light will be affected when you hang curtains.  Natural light is not only beautiful in homes, but using it helps save on your electric bill!  If you are looking for curtains in a room that you would like to have a lot of natural light, go for sheer, thin materials that will allow light to come through easily.  On the other hand, if you are buying curtains for a room you would like to keep darker, such as a TV room or a home office, you may want thicker, heavier curtains.  Curtains with blackout lining are a great room decorating idea for bedrooms, as they can block out all natural light.

There are all sorts of finishing touches you can add to your curtains after you’ve decided on a color and level of thickness.  There are many kinds of poles or rails to hang your curtains on.  You can also choose a particular style of pleating, attach tiebacks and maybe even finials for the end of the poles.

Curtains are one of the main contributors to a room’s ambiance so don’t skimp on this room decorating idea!

Design Sponge Trunk Before and After

The first step is sand down the piece you want to paint.  Sanding the furniture gets rid of the wax or finish that the piece already has.  I recommend using an electric sander, as it is much easier than sanding by hand! Just make sure that you sand each part evenly and clean up all the dust afterwards.

The next step is priming.  Primer is a kind of paint which sticks to any surface and hides strong pigments (so that you can paint white over black etc). Priming help achieve an even finish and is good to use on pieces that were stained. Make sure the surface is completely clean before priming.

You are now ready to paint.  Don’t be afraid to choose bold colors for your “”new” piece.  You can use regular latex house paint and you’ll need at least two coats.  To apply the paint, you can use rollers or brushes.  Rollers are good for larger surfaces and brushes are better for corners and small areas, so depending on your project, you may even want both.  If you are using spray paint, stand 8-12 inches from the wood when spraying. The first coat of paint can take time hours to dry completely so be patient!  You may have to wait 4-12. Once the first coat is completely dry, sand it lightly by hand so that the next coat of paint sticks better.  Once you are finished you can apply your second coat.  If you are going for a distressed or vintage look, you may want to sand again at this point.

Once you have achieved the look you want, it is time to protect your piece with finish.  There are different kinds of sealant such as clear water-based polyurethane finish, paste finishing wax and more.  The water-based finish dries more quickly while the wax gives your piece a softer look.  You can ask your local hardware store employees for details about the particular kinds of finish if you are trying to go for a certain look.

So these were the basics of painting furniture.  We would love to hear how your project went!