Bathroom Design Ideas For Beautiful Bathrooms
Need some great bathroom decoration ideas? Look no further, as decorating bathrooms has never been easier. Read on to find out how.
First, be sure to determine your overall budget and the scope of the project before doing anything else. This will eliminate additional stress and frustration as your bathroom makeover project is underway.
Once you have determined your overall project and budget, it is time to start formulating your color and style palette, utilizing the bathroom decorating ideas and plans you may have been thinking about. Is there a defined decorating style in the rest of your home that will be carried through to the bathroom decorating project? It’s a good idea to be consistent with the style you have set for other areas of your home, although in a bathroom you can ‘go down a different road’ as long as the basic design elements are kept consistent.
The same question applies to the color palette. Have you established a color palette of three to five colors in your home? If you have, select at least two of those colors, whether primary or secondary, to use in your bathroom decorating project.
If you’re not sure what to do with color, here is a suggestion. Find a reputable paint store and work with the suggested palettes and color chips. There are many to choose from, so if you have a color or two that you are working with, you will have no problem finding a variety of suggested color palettes.
Now that you have your style and color choices narrowed down, here are your other considerations and bathroom decoration ideas:
1. Decide if you want to use bold colors on the walls or keep them neutral and use color as an accent. In most bathrooms you can go either way. If you are renting your home or are not sure about putting a lot of color on the walls, stick with a neutral shade and you won’t go wrong. Use a washable paint such as eggshell or possibly a semi gloss, although you will get quite a bit of sheen with that finish.
2. Lighting is important in the bathroom for obvious reasons. Make sure you have enough and that at least one light is bright. Using a softer light such as a small lamp in place of a nightlight is great, but make sure your alternative sources of lighting are nice and bright!
3. You can substantially change the look of your bathroom with accessories, so here are some great bathroom decoration ideas – use some or all of them!
Change the mirror to create a new look. If the existing mirror is square or rectangular, consider oval if that will work in your bathroom. Use a mirror that has an interesting frame instead of just a plain or beveled edge.
If the cabinetry is staying, change the hardware and select something that you can coordinate with the towel holders, for example. This will create a pulled together, designer look. If your decor style is Shabby Chic or French Country, you might want to paint the cabinets.
Shop for accessories that have the color palette and overall design feel you are creating, but please don’t settle for the matching set of anything! You know, the toothbrush holder, soap dish, shower curtain and small wastebasket that have the same palm tree on them??? Don’t do it! Spend a little extra time looking for individual pieces that ‘click’, but don’t match. And, they don’t have to be new. You might find something awesome in another room of your home, a flea market, shopping online or a combination of all three. Take your time and be selective – you will be glad you did.
Think about storage for your bathroom makeover. If you have a linen closet, that’s great. If not, look for creative ways to store your towels, etc. I have used a nightstand from a bedroom set in the bath and it was great – The lower cabinet was great for supplies, and I stored makeup and such in the top drawer.
Finally, remember that safety is always at the forefront in the bathroom. Put rugs on the floor that are non-slip. You can find many great selections at any number of stores depending on your budget. Think twice about using glass jars, etc in the bath if there are small children that will be using the bathroom.
Bedroom Decorating – 5 Ideas to Inspire a Creative Horse Bedroom Theme That You Can Complete Today
Most little girls love horses and dream to own one at some stage in life. Did you know that you can bring a horse bedroom decorating theme straight to your daughter’s room that she can enjoy for years to come both quickly and inexpensively? Use some of the five creative ideas outlined in this article to help you complete the project with ease.
1. Start by selecting a wallpaper border with a horse theme.
The first step in creating an attractive horse bedroom theme is selecting a wall border that will be featured as one of the main parts of your room design. It’s best to think about a color scheme that you find pleasing, then make your wall border selection based on those colors.
2. Add a companion wallpaper for more finished appeal.
One of the easiest ways to pick a background wallpaper is to choose one in a faux paint pattern in a color that compliments the wall border that you selected. Your options are almost unlimited in the colors and shades available and you get the same great look of a faux painted wall, with less mess and work required. For a more finished designer look, try placing the faux wallpaper above the chair rail and use a more detailed pattern such as a gingham or plaid, below the chair rail.
3. Choose bedding to fit your theme.
For a clean and polished look, consider using a solid color bedding in a hue that compliments your room design. You can find bedding very inexpensively at your local discount stores or online. For a little added appeal, choose a solid color comforter and pair it with a small print bed skirt such as a gingham or small floral. Add throw pillows to the bed that are in the same fabric as the bed skirt for a more finished look.
4. Create your own artwork.
To compliment your horse theme bedroom, create customized artwork by having your child cut out pictures of their favorite horses. These can be found in magazines or printed from online photo archives. Mount the photos onto a thick paper or card stock and place them in a frame. For added visual interest, place the frames in groupings of uneven numbers and hang above your child’s headboard.
5. Add horse accents to pull the theme together.
The funnest part of creating your horse bedroom theme is completing it with finishing accents. Consider using plush animal horses, horse models, horse drawer pulls, horse music boxes, horse nightlights and more to give your room that polished look. For a real treat, try adding a real leather saddle or horseshoes to the wall. To expand on the horse bedroom theme, display riding boots and a crop.
Any of these five ideas, or even all of them, will help you create a horse theme bedroom that your daughter will love to share with her friends.
Moroccan Lighting – Moroccan Lamps And Lanterns
Imagine coming home after a long day’s work and slipping into a living room oasis where you’re bathed in soft reds, yellows and oranges while resting on a plush cushion, next to a set of mini palm trees, breathing in the scent of Jasmine incense, listening to light jazz flutes. Selecting furniture isn’t just about functionality anymore; it’s about creating a comfortable habitat where you can relax, de-stress and enjoy your downtime.
Finding the right lighting is the key to creating an ideal atmosphere. As early as 5,000 BC, the Chinese have been building homes in correlation with the sun to provide optimal light, warmth and energy. Historically, Morocco has hosted groups of diverse people from all directions – Phoenicians and Carthaginians from the East, Sub-Saharan Africans from the South, in addition to Romans, Vandals and Andalusians from the North. This Diaspora of culture comes together and can be clearly seen in these colorful Moroccan lamps and lanterns.
What makes Moroccan lamps truly unique is that they’re not mass-produced in a sterile factory — but rather, each shade is made of sheep or goatskin and is then dyed and stretched over a solid iron frame, where it is hand-painted with a needle in brilliant colors, in the decorative tradition of Henna tattoo artistry. Dating back to the Bronze Age, Henna design mimics the Henna plant, which has a plethora of long, thin stalks and tiny blossoms. Much like the tattoos, the lamp designs showcase fluid black lines and shapes, outlined by tiny dots.
Moroccan lamps, varying in shape, size, color and mood offer the opportunity to turn your living room into a stunning art museum. The African Berbers were primarily an agricultural people, so the curved “Berber” floor lamp is painted with a classy, simple style in neutral colors. Tall, slender styles like “The Pharaoh’s Light”, “Red Sun” or “Orange Magical Arabian Nights” capture one’s imagination, while dazzling with dancing patterns, vibrant colors and swaths of vacuous space that instinctively pulls the eyes toward it in wonderment. End table lamps like “African Sun” or “Fez Sun” provide multifunctional use, emanating a soothing glow, while the glass top holds a piece of art, a plant or a tea set for entertaining guests. When you behold a piece like “Ocean Sun,” breathing moonlight into the room with its purple hues and oceanic design, you know that this lamp is not just for providing light, but is a piece of art that will compliment other furniture and themes in the room.
Moroccan lanterns made of stained glass resemble the sort of Church d
Haggling With Your Salesperson When Buying Furniture
10 things to remember when walking into the store:
1) You will be greeted by 2 or 3 or more salespeople, all competing for YOU! There’s nothing that a salesperson loves to hear more than hearing that you just built a house and are needing to furnish the entire thing. I always refused to sell furniture to someone who wasn’t needing their furniture until 8 weeks out or more. The reason is that they can’t measure properly. The furniture may not still be in stock. Most stores will not hold your furniture for you because of warehouse space. Also, you need to have the furniture delivered and if you didn’t close on time, or something was delayed, then it’s tough to reschedule your delivery.
2) There is always a sale. Don’t let them tell you that this is “only for today” and that it’s the best deal of the century. A lot of furniture is purchased in close-outs and in huge lots. The “at cost” price is extremely low. They aren’t loosing money by giving you a discount.
3) Do your homework before you go anywhere. The Internet has a plethora of information. Write down your questions and know what you are willing to spend. There usually is a no return policy once it’s in your home, unless of course there is damage or manufacturer defect.
4) Salepeople have some give to them. Meaning, they can take up to 25% off some items. It all depends on how they like you as a customer whether or not they’ll give it to you.
5) If you don’t like their answer, go back another day and don’t ask for them. Get a new salesperson and see what price they give. 9 times out of 10 you’ll get a different price. Ask for free delivery. This is a huge selling point for most customers. People don’t want to pay for delivery. Occasionally you can get it for free, if it’s a deal breaker. When your furniture is delivered, regardless of how much you paid for it, make sure to thoroughly inspect it BEFORE the delivery people leave. If anything is not up to par, you have the right to refuse it and send it back. That’s not to say that you can’t do anything about it after the fact. It’s much more difficult to prove if you notice it after the fact. You must remember to measure, measure and measure some more before you purchase ANY large piece of furniture. Does it have to go up stairs, a narrow hallway or is it going in your breakfast nook and you need a certain amount of space to pull the chairs out?
6) Know your style, what you like. Don’t let anyone bully you into buying something you don’t want. You will resent it everytime you look at the sea glass green leather sofa that was all the rave 6 months ago, now it’s out of style. If you want solid wood, you will have a hard time finding it. Most furniture is veneer, which isn’t a bad thing. Definitely know your leather. There are several types and levels of quality. People either hate leather or love it. Usually the men love it and the women hate it because it’s cold. If you have children or pets, make sure you get the protection the store offers. Ask a ton of questions about what the protection plan covers. It might seem ridiculous to pay $79 furniture protection for 5 years on a sofa, but it’s much cheaper than buying a new couch because your cat pee’d on the cushion and the smell will never come out. Unless you plan on just looking at the furniture and not using it, then don’t get the protection. Otherwise something WILL happen to it, it’s guaranteed! Most protection plans are set up to where they will fix something and if they can’t fix it, they’ll replace it. That’s a great deal if you go 4 1/2 years and a candle sets your couch on fire, you get a brand new sofa. Scotchgard is not the latest and greatest out there folks. If you haven’t heard, they were taken off the market for a couple of years because of cancer causing agents. Then they are so bold to come back and under the same name! Plus, Scotchgard needs to be reapplied after time. Which means that if you apply a second layer, you are embedding the dirt that has accumulated on your furniture. Make sure that the store will pretreat your sofa, recliner or any other material before you receive it in your home.
7) Realize that most furniture is made in China. Shocker, I know. Even reputable furniture companies that have been around for decades outsource their product to factories in China. If American made is important to you, do your homework before you leave your house. Most salespeople don’t know a lot about the furniture they are selling because there are hundred’s of manufacturers represented on the sales floor and they are constantly changing.
Just because it has Martha Stewart’s name on it doesn’t mean it’s better than the other furniture, only more expensive. Think about it. You are buying the name, not the product. Manufacturers put famous names on their plain furniture because they know it will sell. Ever seen Vera Wang’s name or Laura Ashley on a mattress? What difference does it make what the mattress looks like when it’s going to be covered up. How much do you think those ladies know about mattresses???
9) No interest, no payments ’til 2012! Okay, but what happens after that? If you don’t make the minimum payments each month there is a balloon at the end with an interest rate of 20% +. If you have excellent credit and want to build on that because you know that you will be able to make the payments, then by all means, go for that offer. ***This is very important! Don’t make double payments one month and think it’s okay to skip the next month because you paid more the previous month. You HAVE to make the minimum or else it will cost you. Also, they run your credit report. Know what shape your credit is in beforehand and realize that any time your credit is checked it affects your score. Also, there is a $20 or more fee for financing. Salespeople WILL NOT tell you this. You won’t find out until you receive your first statement in about a month. If you think you might struggle making the monthly payment, then don’t do it. Do you really want to pay $1,200 for a couch that was originally $799? By the time you pay it off, it’ll be time to replace it. It you are a young couple starting out you might not have any established credit, that might be tough getting financing, but it’s possible. If you want to buy cheaper furniture just to get you through the next 2 years, then that’s great. When I was in my 20′s I bought cheap furniture. Now that I am in my 30′s I spend more money on quality furniture that will last me for a long time. Know your priorities.
10) Don’t make a purchase the first time. Don’t let it be an emotional purchase. Think about it and sleep on it for at least 2 days. If you still want to buy it after that, then go ahead. Now the deal might not be around 2 days later. Ask your salesperson how much is in stock. If there are plenty, then you should be safe. If it’s gone, then it wasn’t meant to be, there are plenty of other options.
Remember, it never hurts to ask. If you think you might be able to get something, ask in a manner that is pleasant and you’ll be astonished at what you can walk away with. If you don’t like the answer you get from your salesperson because you know that your neighbor got the same thing for much less, ask to speak to the manager. Don’t let your salesperson go ask, because guess what – they won’t. They will only tell you that they did.
Bedroom Pleasures
There are several ways to spice up things in the bedroom other then lingerie. While lingerie is sexy, sets the mood, and is a great way to change your nightly routine up there is also a wide selection of candles, massage oils, bath oils and soaps, edibles, tease touch toys such as feathers and much more. Adding another element to the bedroom is a great way for couples to add variety to their evening.
To start the evening off have a little adult bath time fun. There are scented bath oils, salts, and bubbles to set the mood with a light scent and you can enjoy bathing each other too. For something just a step up there is glow in the dark bubble bath. With glow in the dark bubble bath you have no distractions in the bath except for the person you are sharing it with and the erotic illuminating light from the water.
Next I’m going to take you to the world of edibles. Edible adult novelties can range from anything to edible panties to whipped cr
Give Your Home a Futuristic Look With Modern Furniture Designs
Giving your home a remodeling project does not necessarily result in success if you want to achieve a futuristic look. In fact, many homeowners today end up with less desirable results in this scenario, especially those that did not consider a cheaper method in achieving their goal.
In truth, you don’t necessarily have to go to extreme lengths just to give your home that modern look that any homeowners today would want their residence to have. Equipping it with home furnishings with the latest modern designs available today is a cost-effect approach that will guarantee a home improve project.
Home Furnishings For A New Look
We can never deny the fact that the first thing we look at when we visit someone else’s home is their furniture. Not only does it address our need of comfort, but a carefully thought-out design of modern furnishings on any home will improve its overall beauty and ambience.
This is one of the reasons why you can achieve in giving your home a new look just by purchasing and installing it with new furniture. But this is not easy if you aren’t accustomed with the rules and concepts in buying one for your needs.
Determine The Style Of Your Home First
Before you choose and purchase modern furniture for your home improvement project, you might want to spend a little time checking and planning out what type of design you want your abode to have. If your creativity stops working at this point in time, you might want to observe existing home and furniture designs in magazines, catalogs, or even on various sites on the Net to give you some idea.
Measurement Is Very Important
Measurement plays an integral role in getting the right furniture installed in your home. Failure to get the right floor area of your residence will result in purchasing home furnishing that will not fit with your home’s specification.
Also, furniture being sold in the market today varies according to their size and shape; take advantage of these choices by having the measurements with you when you start window shopping for the best ones in the market.
Don’t Settle On One Furniture Design
Keep in mind that there are thousands of furniture designs being sold in the market today. To avoid regretting any of your acquisition, you might want to immerse yourself with all the choices you can find before you decide.
If the furniture shops in your area don’t have the styles that you seek that will fit perfectly with your concept of an ideal home, then you might want to branch out by checking out furniture sites on the Internet for more selections.
http://www.modani.com/ — Modern Furniture