Isn't it strange that you can go into two identical house both with warm friendly people living there and feel totally welcome and comfortable in one and in the other you can't wait to leave. What is your house saying about you?
Puzzled as to what style or theme you want to use? Make it a family fun decision. Go style shopping with your family, ending up in a favorite place for desert or snacks and discuss what your project will look like and say about your family.I have seen far too many homes where they spared no cost and decorated to the hilt. The result was a show place that you couldn't be comfortable in if you cared to try.The reason I put "don't sweat the cost" as the first secret is because that's the number one reason I have heard through the years that people don't decorate. It's too expensive!Secret #6. Keep It Simple!- Dining Area: Our dining room table is the focal point of our dining room. We have a long oak table that is great for seasonal decorating. A table runner makes a nice seasonal addition. I have one made out of Easter fabric for spring, a floral one for summer, and one of Christmas fabric. I just need to get one for autumn. You can accessorize with seasonal place mats, napkins, and napkin rings. These you can make yourself or pick up at yard sales or clearance sales off-season. I also like to decorate the center of the table for the season. A lot of times I will use a vase of seasonal flowers. For autumn I have a vase of artificial fall foliage. I accent the vase with Indian corn, gourds, and artificial fall leaves.- I store my seasonal decorations in several large stackable Rubbermaid containers: two for Christmas, one for Easter/spring, and one for autumn/Thanksgiving. When I'm ready to change themes, I get out the one(s) to put things away in, dust or otherwise clean the area(s) where the new decorations will sit, and then get out the new decorations. The storage containers get put back away, and everything is still organized for next season. Make sure you mark the containers in some way to know which one is which. Color coding them buy buying different colored containers works well.Secret #2. Decorate For Your Family!If you find the task of re-decorating your entire home overwhelming, look for certain areas of your home that would be good for displaying seasonal decorations. In my home the kitchen, dining room, and living room are the focal areas of our home. There are certain areas where I concentrate when decorating for the seasons:- Kitchen: I don't do a lot of seasonal decorating in the kitchen, but there are a couple of easy things you can do to liven it up a little. Seasonal dish cloths and hand towels are really cute, as well as seasonal floor mats. If you use the towels for decoration only, like hanging from your oven door handle, they will still be nice for the next year. Seasonal refrigerator magnets are also easy to update.When the family is not involved in the decorating they resent the intrusion into their space and will throw little "monkey wrenches" into the project to show their resentment.- You will inevitably forget to put something away and stumble across it when you're cleaning another day. In each bathroom I have a corner of a closet shelf reserved for miscellaneous seasonal decorations. Or if someone gives you a seasonal gift you don't have anywhere else to put at the moment, this is a good place to put it.What's the difference?The most common gifts that are related to Asian home decorating is Chinese Dragons which generates positive energy in your house as well as helps in keeping the bad spirits away from your house. Asian home decorating, Money Frogs are used to increase the treasures and success in your house. Generally made of agate or jade these frogs are the symbol of good fortune which comes with your intelligence and hard work. An Asian Crystal globe of Asian home decorating is used for ensuring healthy state of body and mind. This crystal ball is the most well known cure which stimulates positive energy in the house when rays of sun fall on it. Along with these, various other animal figures found in Asia like jade horses are also used for this purpose.Have you ever been to a house where it was decorated to such a degree that you felt uncomfortable? You don't know where to sit because you don't want to disturb the starched look. You sure couldn't feel comfortable in your "funkies" in this room. You sit on the end of the chair hoping you don't wrinkle the fabric.I know you have been to a place like that, so have I, far too many times. You just want to get out of there so you can relax.- Living Room: The main areas of the living room I concentrate on are the fireplace mantel and hearth, a corner curio shelf, and the entertainment center. I lay a garland across the top of the entertainment center that can be changed with the seasons: fall foliage for autumn, flowers for spring and summer, and evergreens for winter. On the shelves of the entertainment center and the curio shelves I rotate my seasonal knickknacks. The last place I decorate is the top of the piano. Sometimes I just decorate with houseplants and photographs, but it is also a great place to showcase collections, like my angels at Christmas or my bunny village in the spring. I also have a piece of fabric draped over the piano that I can change with the seasons.Secret #7. Have Fun with Your Decorating!- Other: Window clings are great for any season. Door wreaths can also be rotated any time of year. My grapevine wreath goes up in the autumn and is soon replaced by my Christmas wreath. You could have one for every season. Although I don't have one yet, a lot of people have seasonal flags or banners displayed outside of the house. These you could buy or make yourself.Let your humor show through. A couple of pillows with your favorite sayings will liven up a room in short order. If it looks starchy to you it will look 10 times more starchy to your visitors and friends.Secret #3. Get the Family Involved In the DecoratingYou could have the best looking house in the neighborhood but if you over spent on decorating and your family is feeling the pinches for doing so you will resent the beautiful surrounding.When the family is involved in the decorating project you create family memories that will last lifetimes and be talked about at family gatherings for years to come.Asian home decorating is also available in the Patio furniture style in the market and there is something that fits to every house. This style is very attractive and has been used constantly as a traditional decorative in the houses. Its popularity can be proved from the fact that even the western culture is slowly getting inclined towards the Asian Home Decoration.Secret #5. Over Spend Not!Your resentment will show in how you take care of the room as well as your attitude about the room. This attitude will spill over and your house will lose that warm cozy feeling that is portrayed by those living there.Two identical houses sit side by side on the same street. The people living in both houses are friendly people the type you would like to get to know better. Enter one house and you feel comfortable and welcome, enter the second and from the moment you enter you feel uncomfortable and on edge. Whats the difference?
Home decorating should be exciting for all the family. What you decorate today you will replace with a new "thingie" tomorrow. Have fun with your decorating. Your humor and good taste will speak volumes about you and your family to visitors and friends.
Author: Terry Schierer
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