The Hawaiian lifestyle is more relaxed than those in other places. The relaxing pace, beach atmosphere, and surfer styles are elements that you can incorporate into your own lifestyle, regardless of where you live.  Hawaiian styles can influence your wardrobe, home decor, and even the meals you prepare.

Hawaiian Fashion and Accessories

There are both obvious and subtle ways to include Hawaiian style into your wardrobe. For men, Hawaiian shirts are an obvious choice, as are light colored shorts in linen or cotton. These bright floral prints are also available in sundresses for women.

For cooler climates, men can wear khaki pants instead of shorts and add a dark blazer over a Hawaiian shirt. Women can easily add a cardigan sweater and tights with a sundress to keep warm in chilly weather. A Hawaiian print blouse also looks great with jeans and an open sweater or wrap.

For summer months and warmer climates, beachwear is a great option when adding some island influence to your wardrobe. For women, Hawaiian print bikinis and sarongs are perfect choices. Shorts can be worn with bikini tops for a look that can go from the streets to the beach. Men’s swim trunks should be slightly longer, and board shorts that feature Hawaiian florals are very popular.

Hawaiian fashion accessories can add just a touch of the look to your wardrobe. For women, beach totes in raffia or floral prints look great in the summer, as well as flip flops for a casual look. A flower clip worn in the hair and beach-inspired jewelry like shell necklaces, pearls, and a shark’s tooth pendant are perfect for any weather.

Hawaiian Home Decor

Hawaiian-inspired home decor focuses on natural elements in the home. Wood accessories play a large role in the look, especially pieces that are made from wood that is native to Hawaii, such as koa. Wood tables and chairs are excellent investments, while wood vases, picture frames, and mirrors are perfect accents to experiment with the look.

Wicker furniture is another tropical-inspired idea, as well as ceiling fans. Breezy fabrics like sheer curtains and comfortable upholstery like twill, cotton, or linen are durable for couches and chairs and look appropriate for an island home.

Wood or bamboo blinds bring the outdoors inside, while furniture and home accessories in colors that are found in nature invoke an island feeling. Beach-inspired accessories like seashells, surfboards, and pictures of palm trees also highlight the Hawaiian lifestyle.

Hawaiian-Inspired Meals

Bring a taste of Hawaii to your meals by experimenting with ingredients like pineapples, coconut, and pork. There are a number of Polynesian dishes that can be prepared at home. Some ideas include teriyaki beef grilled on a stick, sweet and sour chicken kabobs with peppers and pineapples, salmon and rice, and sushi.

While some meals are more elaborate to prepare, you can find your own inspiration from trying various dishes at Polynesian restaurants. You can also simplify the dishes by using premade sauces and meat marinades from a grocery store. Have fun trying new recipes and experimenting with different foods and combinations inspired by the Hawaiian Islands.

This guest post was written by Maria Mathers.  Maria writes about sustainable living and design. She gets inspiration from Hawaiian furniture by www.MartinandMacarthur.com and thinks koa wood furniture and koa bowls are hot this year!

For Christmas 2010 (yes, this was last year’s beauty that I’ve been hanging on to!), I decked out our brand new home in poinsettia fare, including one dedicated Christmas tablescape that even had my new poinsettia dishes by Better Homes and Gardens.

The table looked almost too pretty to eat a meal at!  The red stemware was paired with my red satin poinsettia napkins.

Metallic red chargers served as the bottom layer for our gorgeous plates and rested atop my red satin poinsettia placemats with metallic red and green leaves.

The Perfect Poinsettias in a Holiday Glow Christmas Tablescape is linked to Delightfully Inspiring, Creative bloggers party & hop, 11th Heaven, Tablescape Thursday, and Made by you Mondays.

It’s also in the blog hop world at these fine sites: Wordless Wednesday, 5 Minutes 4 Mom, A Renaissance Woman, A Work in Progress, Barefoot Mahala,  Be There 2 Day, Brookie’s Baby Bargains, Busy Working Mama, By Word of Mouth, Carrie with Children, Crazy About My Baybah, Create with Joy,  Frugal Plus, Frugality is Free,  Gaynycdad, In Him We Live,  JaMonkey, Kibitz Spot,  Letters From Momma, Making Mama Happy, Mama to 4 Blessings, Mom Caboodle, Mom’s Own Words, My Thoughts and Ramblings,  NYC Single Mom, One Smiley Monkey, Parenting by Dummies, Princesscj Haven,  Sakura haruka, Saving with SaveOne, Shasher’s Life,  Terri’s Little Haven, Thriving Despite Us, Toronto Teacher Mom, Tots and Me,

This is a guest post by Linda at  HomeInteriorsZone.com. The blog helps its readers give their home a beautiful look through some real useful articles on home interiors.

Having some extra time and thinking about doing something useful? Here’s an idea: pick some DIY projects to do around your home. Sometimes the smallest change could make all the difference and you will feel a lot better in the new surroundings.

1. Beautify the Headboard
One of the projects that you could be thinking about is adding a new headboard to your bed. All you need is a custom cut headboard (have a carpenter do this for you), glue gun and the fabric that you would like to have in the bedroom. You just have to cut out the fabric that will cover the headboard and use the glue gun.

2. Colorful Children Haven
Do you have children around the house? They feel a lot better if they have their own space, which has been especially designed for them. Consider creating table and chairs just for them. You will need some smaller chairs and a smaller table and this is a very good way to add some color to the home.

You could use stripes of Japanese masking tape on the top of the table and chairs and then just cover it with a sheet of clear contact paper. Finish the look with a coat of glossy black paint. It is also a good idea to paint the chairs in different colors.

3. Trendy Art on a Budget
It is just natural that people need some art around their home, but it isn’t a rule that it is mandatory for art to be expensive. You can use fabric and shoestring to create the perfect art for the room. The piece of art that you will create could also be linked to the rest of the room, for example if you use the fabric of which the pillowcases are made of.

4. Stylish Space Dividers
Nowadays it is a trend not to use walls as dividers in case of the different rooms of the house. This is why you might look for some other ways to divide the space. You just need some panels as raw materials, and it doesn’t hurt to have some experience with the jigsaw.

Although there can be some work with the panels, you can be sure that in the end the  result is well worth it. The room divider will prove that you have some imagination, and it will also help you save a lot of money.

5. From Old Thing to Glamour Decoration
There might be some old items lying around the house, waiting to be redone. For example, you could have a bench at your hands that could become a great element for an entry, you just have to give it a new look. This is easily done through adding new upholstery that matches the style of the rest of the room. Also this is something easy to do even for beginners.

6. School Style Notice Board
Many people have to-do lists on their fridge, but it is a lot more elegant and functional to have a dry-erase board. If you have a board of this kind, you can kiss goodbye to the ugly pile of Post-its that you used to have lying around the room.

The Useful Kitchen Ceiling Rack and Its Placement

The following article is a guest post by Jakob Barry.  Jakob writes for Networx.com. He covers various home improvement topics including small kitchen remodeling ideas.

In the house I grew up in we had a large kitchen full of cabinets and drawers that held everything from the food we cooked to the pans we cooked it in.

This non-system worked for a long time until one day somebody had the bright idea to screw a wall rack onto a wooden barrier that separated the back of the oven from the rest of the room.

For a period of time it revolutionized our home but the relief didn’t last long, as foot traffic regularly knocked into the hanging vessels and pots and pans frequently collected dirt from outside.

Looking back I’ve often wondered why we didn’t just take things a step further and install what I have found to be one of the best ways to keep order in the kitchen: a ceiling rack.

Kitchen ceiling racks probably originated in industrial kitchens where many types of pots and pans were needed on the fly and the chef couldn’t afford to go looking for his trusty skillet.

Today, however, ceiling racks are fairly common and with a large variety of shapes and sizes, they can fit in tight spots like small galley kitchens, relieving stress from cramped cupboards and lending special character to kitchens.

It should be noted, though, that like anything else, they have their own set of rules, placement being THE most important consideration. What do I mean?

In the technical sense racks need to be situated under and secured to joists, the beams that run wall to wall supporting the ceiling. Since pots and pans hold a lot of weight failure to hang a rack properly to a joist will result in its collapse.

Luckily, with a simple stud finder (which can be purchased at any local hardware store for just a few dollars), marking joists is easy and after they are located it shouldn’t be difficult to gauge the available space against the size, shape, and material of the preferred rack.

At the same time, be aware that with all the focus on finding joists some spots should be off limits.

For example, it may make sense that racks hang above ovens because that’s where pots and pans are used but there are three main drawbacks:

1.    Heat from the stove is a safety concern when reaching for a pot.

2.    Dust that collects on pots may fall into food.

3.    Even though a rack is high up it can still accumulate residue from all the cooking going on below.

For these reasons and more racks should ideally hang above a kitchen island or general counter surrounded by open space so when holding all that metal and steel they don’t block windows and cabinets.

The possibility exists for some compromise but this should be the general rule.

Meanwhile, there are two other issues to keep in mind:

•    Very often ceiling lights pose a challenge to placement but certain racks come with their own fixtures so the ceiling space can be used more wisely.

•    Single chain racks have a tendency to rock back and forth when accessed so bear this in mind when choosing one for your kitchen.

Finally, whatever rack you choose, it’s important to follow the instruction manual well, as finding joists may be a standard job but sometimes even the expert DIYer can get stuck in a trap assembling certain products. 

Plan accordingly and be patient so the resourceful kitchen ceiling rack becomes a powerful accessory in your home! 

Photo credits Britt Reints (miss-britt) and Chad Magiera.

For us busy parents, the weekend getaways may be few and far between.  However, you don’t need to have a weekend away to enjoy a relaxing bubble bath in your own bathroom retreat if you’ve created an elegant bathroom!

Head into a luxurious retreat alone or with your spouse for a relaxing bubble bath.  Bring along some wine and strawberries or a cup of soothing tea to invoke the spa retreat feeling!

Like the master bedroom, the master bathroom is one place you just can’t hold back on when it comes to luxury and design.  Make sure your master bathroom has extra fluffy towels, a hidden mp3 player for soothing classical music, and an oversized hotel-style robe with matching slippers to complete your spa-at-home retreat!

Next, you should read how to decorate a peaceful bedroom.

Elegant Bathrooms: Time for a Relaxing Bubble Bath is linked to the Finer Things in Life.  Photo credit.

You can create tons of visual interest in your home decorating by taking elements out of a photo and pairing them with the framed photo.  I’ve included an example of how to use this decorating trick in the photo at left.

You can see that the portrait of my daughter, Seven, has her sitting in front of a field of flowers and holding a huge pink dinner plate dahlia flower.  What better way to take these flat elements and give them life than to pair this framed photo with flowers? 

We’ve taken a silk floral garland and strung it along the edge of the counter (using 3M Command hooks so it doesn’t damage the counter) right underneath the portrait’s photo frame. 

Although the silk flowers aren’t the exact same kind of flower used in the photo, they do mirror the same colors.  Putting these flowers right beneath the frame really causes the floral element to pop in the portrait.  

Using the tricks in our Homespun Touches is an easy way to utilize the décor elements you already have and maximize their visual potential.   Look for opportunities to use the Giving Life to Flat Images trick in your home.

You could easily adapt this trick to almost any photo you care to use.  If you have a photo of your children posing with Mickey Mouse at Disneyland you could easily hang the frame on the wall with a Mickey Mouse ears hat fastened right behind the top corner.

Love our Homespun Touches?  Subscribe to our free updates to get them delivered to your email!  Homespun Touches – Giving Life to Flat Images is linked to Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom, Works for Me Wednesday, 11th Heaven.

You can use any small ledge in your home to create a homespun touch uniquely yours. Above, we’ve used the dividing wall that separates the front door to the entry way from the living room. As you can see in the photo, we used 3 small pieces to create visual interest on what would have otherwise been empty, unused space.

The warm browns in the room were something we really wanted to work with, so we chose a beige wicker basket (right), a tea-stained decorative block (middle), and a potted pink tulip tied with an ivory raffia bow (left).

The potted tulips arrangement is silk, not real, so it can be packed away at the end of summer and saved for the next year.   The basket is versatile, since it can be used on a ledge like this as-is for keys or as a catch-all for other items, or can be decorated with ribbons, fabric, or other items to fit it into another décor scheme in your home. 

Quick and easy home décor with little Homespun Touches is something you can become great at in no time!  Keep your eye out for unused spaces in your home and simple items that complement each other and the colors in your room. 

Love our Homespun Touches?  Subscribe to our free updates to get them delivered to your email!  Homespun Touches – Decorating the Little Ledges is linked to Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom, Works for Me Wednesday, 11th Heaven.

4 Fun Historical Décor Themes for a Little Boy’s Bedroom

History is an important aspect of any child’s education. Without knowledge of the past, it is difficult to define who we are and in turn, work towards a better future. Children can be taught to love history from a young age and one way to achieve this is through their surroundings. Instilling a sense of wonder about the past is a precious gift you can give your son or daughter and this post delves into 4 fun historical themes you can create for your little boy’s bedroom interior.

Knights and Medieval Castles

The romance of knights, princesses and their beautiful medieval castles are enough to captivate children and adults alike. Little girls adore palace themed bedrooms and the delicate décor that goes with such a setting. For little boys however, the swords, amour, battles and duels with fire breathing dragons are much more interesting and these should be reflected in their bedroom design.

Perhaps the most famous knights known to children for thousands of years have been King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. The castle of Camelot is never far from the storyteller’s tongue when reciting the brave tales of knights in shining armor. There’s a wide array of related characters and settings you can use when it comes to medieval heraldry.

Some items you might consider include:

• Castle themed beds (often with tents and canopies)
• Knights and castle wall murals
• Dragon lamps
• Toy plastic swords for the wall
• Castle-themed rocking chairs
• Replica toy knights on horses to adorn a shelf

Swashbuckling Pirates

“Shiver my timbers! There’s a little pirate in our house!”

Little boys love to play-fight with plastic or wooden swords whilst shouting out catchphrases from their favourite pirate books or movies. It’s not difficult to see the attraction pirates have for children of all ages. The adventures, mysteries and battles pirates get up to are enough to fuel any young boy’s imagination. It appeals directly to their natural sense of fun and kinship.

For parents and grandparents, the most famous pirate stories would be from tales such as Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island and Long John Silver. However, for young kids these days, their image of piracy is largely going to come from the tales of Johnny Depp in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. The exciting cinematic special effects and the likeable characters (together with the very scary bad guys) have rekindled the romance associated with pirates of old.

A pirate themed bedroom will be the captain’s cabin amongst your little boy’s friends from where they can hatch their devious pirate plans for acquiring chests of gold or eatable bounties.

Some items you might consider include:

• Ship’s wheel wall decoration
• Pirate bedding
• Black skull and cross bone flag for the wall
• Pirate themed wooden storage chest for toys
• Movie posters of Captain Jack Sparrow and friends
• Nautical themed clock

Cowboys and the Wild West

Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show did a lot to cement the image of cowboys we have today. One might also be forgiven for thinking cowboys and the Wild West have become less popular amongst children of the newer generation and in some ways this is true. During the 20^th Century, there were tons of movies related to cowboys and their conflicts with Indians and fellow cowboys. John Wayne personified the proud and often chivalrous ideal of the brave American rancher.

Of course, Hollywood glossed over many of the realities of cow herding and the frontier era. Nevertheless, cowboys still have an iconic image in the United States and due to cartoon representations and their parent’s love of old black and white western movies, the theme is a widely requested one among little boys.

Some items you might consider include:

• Cowhide print cushions and sheets
• Cowboy boots decor
• Stagecoach themed bed
• Personalized wanted poster
• Cactus wall décor
• Horse themed wallpaper
• Rustic wooden furniture
• Kid’s indoor tepee

Cavemen and Dinosaurs

“Ug ug ug!” is probably the sound most people think emanated from our early ancestor’s lips as they sat in caves chewing on the carcasses of their hunted prey. This is a rather humorous stereotype of cavemen propagated by cartoons and various movies. In fact, the ‘caveman’ as we imagine him to be (rather like Fred Flintstone but not as clean shaven) is of course not that close to the reality of how early humans lived. However, for decorative purposes in a child’s bedroom, it matters very little.

It’s popular to pair cavemen with dinosaurs too and again this is thanks to Hollywood movies and comic strips. It’s not historically correct but nevertheless fun and entertaining. Many little boys who have recently enjoyed a caveman or dinosaur movie or book will love a themed bedroom based along these lines.

Some items you might consider include:

• Bone décor
• Dinosaur wall decals
• Leopard print upholstery and bedding
• T-Rex table lamp
• Dinosaur themed wall clocks
• Caveman movie posters and art prints
• Caveman figurines

A Child’s Imagination

Decorating a little boy’s bedroom with one of these 4 historical themes will be a fun and rewarding task for both you and your child. Depending on the age of your son, it’s always a good idea to get a little input from him and let him choose some of the items and decorations that make up the final décor scheme. A child’s imagination is very rich and the ideas a child gives will often surprise you in a very positive way. You might even end up redesigning the master bedroom because of something he suggests!

4 Fun Historical Décor Themes for a Little Boy’s Bedroom is linked to 11th Heaven and Works For Me Wednesday.

When it comes to table setting, do you know the proper layout for your tablescapes, or are you always wondering how to place the silverware and on which side of the plate the napkin goes?

Table setting is easy once you get the hang of it; until then, just print out this handy guide for how to properly set a table and put it in the front of your cookbook for quick reference.

We’re taking the mystery out of how to put together a tablescape and how to properly set a table with these easy to follow step by step instructions.

How To Properly Set a Table

1.  First, put down the foundations.

• The tablecloth goes on the table first.
• Next, if you’re using a table runner, that will go on top of the tablecloth.
• Next, place mats can be put at each setting, or at every other setting if you wish.

2.  Set up the centerpiece.

• Whether flowers in a vase, a hanging basket from your porch, or another beautiful focal point, make sure the centerpiece is the largest (and tallest) thing on the table.  If it falls short of the height requirement, try adding something underneath.  Even a small container covered with a piece of fabric can act as a makeshift “riser” to lift your centerpiece up.
• Around the centerpiece, scatter flower petals, glitter, confetti, silk leaves, or any other decorative touch.
• If you choose, place candles or tea lights in votives around the centerpiece.

3.  Build up the dishes at each place setting. You don’t have to use each piece, but this is the order they go in:

• Bottom: charger.
• Next, large plate.
• Then, small plate.
• On top of those 3 items, place the bowl.

4.  Place the flatware. In a tablescape you have creative license to place items any place they look nice in the design.  If you’d like to stick with a traditional flatware setting, utensils go in this order:

Print Out This Guide
and store it in the front of your cookbook for quick reference.

To the left of the plate:

• Closest to the plate, place the dinner fork (larger fork).
• Furthest from the plate, place the salad fork (smaller fork).

To the right of the plate:

• Closest to the plate, place the knife. The blade faces the plate.
• In the middle, place the large spoon.
• Furthest from the plate, place the small spoon.

5.  The glasses can go directly in front of the plates. Imagining the plate is a clock, the glass goes at 1 o’clock.

6.  Tea cups or coffee cups with saucers are placed next. Imagining the plate is a clock, the cup and saucer goes at 2 o’clock.

7.  The bread and butter plate with butter knife are optional. Imagining the plate is a clock, the bread and butter plate goes at 11 o’clock.  The butter knife is laid across the bread and butter plate.

8.  Place your napkins. Depending on the look you’re going for, napkins can be placed decoratively in the glasses for a splash of color, arranged in a napkin ring and place in the bowl, or set to the left of the flatware on the left side of the plate.

9.  Lastly, arrange your placecards. Let your guests know where they will be sitting by using place cards. They can go to the left of the glass, in front of the plate, or in the bowl.

Next, learn some more about creating great tablescapes.  Tablescapes: Budget Table Settings that Look Expensive (part 1) shows you how to buy all the materials at low prices that you’ll need for frugal tablescapes.  How to Design Budget Tablescapes that Look Expensive (part 2) teaches you tricks that home decorating magazine pros use in their tablescapes.

Find more Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family, and 11th Heaven.  We originally published Table Setting 101: How to Properly Set a Table on May 19, 2009.

Our tablescape today is a beautiful Oriental garden summer flair table setting.  The square plates and stir fry meal added to this tablescape give it the perfect summery Oriental feel for something different.

This frugal tablescape was put together from table items bought at Fred Meyer (also called Kroger stores on the West coast).  The peach floral tablecloth is flocked vinyl, so it is easy to wipe clean.

The green ivy plate rack serves as the centerpiece for this unusual table scape.  It holds the larger plates from this dish set that were not used in these place settings, but were nonetheless beautiful on the table.

This frugal centerpiece plate rack was picked up at a garage sale for a mere $3!

The “flowers” on the table are actually small plastic bowls placed on folded green cloth napkins (which serve as the “leaves”).  The leaf napkins are easy to fold; simply fold your cloth napkin into a square and turn it over, so the wrong side faces up.  Secure with a small bowl or glass to create the flower effect.

Below, you can see the before and after pictures of this place setting.  At left, ready to be served.  At right, the flower bowl becomes a home for a white rice snowball and the Oriental garden vegetables make a delicious stir fry. 

You will note also our unusual placement of the napkins and spoons in this place setting.  Our utensils become part of the picture, as the spoons sit atop the bowls!

Find more Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family, and Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven.

This cow hide chair is the kind of thing my family had to see to believe!

Get more Wordless Wednesday at WordlessWednesday.com and 5 Minutes 4 Mom.

1.  Open the windows and doors and let in the fresh air. Air out your home, even if only for a few minutes (if you’re still experiencing colder weather).

2.  Bring home a bouquet of fresh springy flowers from the store. Grocery stores and mass retailers like Walmart have inexpensive mixed bouquets that you can bring home without breaking the budget for a quick pick-me-up.

3.  Set out some brightly colored silk floral arrangements. Not into fresh flowers?  Silk flowers can be used over and over again, and stored when the season is over.  (Plus you can even wash them in the dishwasher- how’s that for convenience?!)  Put a bouquet of silk flowers on your desk, dining room table, or even in your bathroom to add a hint of spring.

4.  Change the mats in your picture frames. This widely overlooked little trick can do volumes to update your decor for the changing season.  Change out dark colored mats in your photo frames for pastels and whites for a spring decorating touch.

5.  Change your menu plan to include lighter recipes. If you’ve been making thick stews and hearty winter soups for a while, it’s time to perk up your menu plan with spring recipes!  Go for lighter soups, fresh fruits and vegetables, and delicious salads.

6.  Change candles and air fresheners to spring scents. If you still have spice, pumpkin, evergreen, and other winter and holiday scents lingering, it’s time to pack them away!  Replace these with light, floral scents to add a spring touch.

7.  Declutter for your garage sale now. Get the kids involved in decluttering as you do your spring cleaning.  Box up all unneeded items to sell at garage sales you may have this summer.

8.  Repaint your walls. Even if you’re not wild about color, a fresh coat of white paint on clean walls can give you a great basis for your spring decorating.

9.  Pack away the winter outerwear and gear and unpack the spring items: windbreakers, flip flops and sandals, shorts and tank tops are ready to come out of storage.

10.  Update your wardrobe. Unpack last spring and summer’s clothing and bring it back to your closet.  Make sure to box up your sweaters and other heavy winter clothes for next year.

11.  Change your shower curtain. Choose a new brightly colored shower curtain to update your bathroom’s decor for spring.  A rainforest, luxurious beach, or palm trees shower curtain design can instantly transport you to summer weather as you wait for the temperatures to rise!

12.  Give your couches and recliners a spring update with slipcovers. A slipcover can create the illusion of new furniture in an instant.  Go for a light, airy color to brighten up your space for spring.

13.  Switch out throw rugs and throw pillows. In dens, bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms, little accents of color can perk up your decor with minimal expense and fuss.  Opt for pretty floral colors of throw pillows and rugs to use throughout the house.

Check out our spring tablescapes while you’re here. 13 Ways to Let Spring Into Your Home Today! was originally published on Home Ever After on April 8, 2009. Spring house photo by laudu.  Spring flowers photo by Јerry.

If you’re a big fan of home decorating and interior design, you probably know who interior designer Kristan Cunningham is (from HGTV and the Rachael Ray Show).  Her latest project is something that will help you even more with your home DIY decorating and redesign projects.  It’s a new home design software from Punch! called Weekend Project.

If you’ve ever played The Sims, the images in the video below might look similar to you.  When playing that computer game, it’s fun to get wrapped up in decorating and redecorating your Sim’s house, and you might even wish it was that easy to do your own home upgrades with the click of a button!  Check out the video below to see how the Weekend Project program works and see some before and after home makeovers:

The Weekend Project software won’t do the home DIY work for you, but it will let you see the project possibilities so that you can see the options before you spend money buying the project supplies and materials.

Throughout the software you get design tips from Kristan as well, helping with the many decorating dos and don’ts you may have questions about.

My favorite feature in the program is the brand name product library.  The wide selection of faux finishes, paints, flooring, blinds, and other materials mean that once you design it and see that you like it, you can go to your local store and buy the exact product in the color you just visualized.

I’d love to try out this software on the new house my husband and I are buying.  The master bedroom and nursery are side-by-side, but separated by a wall.  We talked about the possibility of putting a door in between the rooms to connect them, but it would be much nicer to put the rooms into the Weekend Project first to see how the end result would look before taking any action.

I haven’t tried this software out yet, but it looks like the wide variety of features would be well worth the small sticker price ($39.99).  You can get more info or buy Weekend Project on the Punch website here.  If you try it out, let us know what you think about it in the comments below.

Disclaimer:  In compliance with the FTC Guides, updated 10/5/09, this article has material connections.  IS World Media (ISWM) received a fee for the writing and publication.

If you’ve ever wondered what the easiest way is to hang pictures, this home DIY is for you.  This chore is no problem if you follow our step by step instructions for how to hang pictures, which usually can be done with some basic tools available at your local home improvement store. While it is easy to do, it is also not as simple as driving a few nails into the wall.  So keep reading, and you’ll be hanging pictures like a pro in no time!

Tools You Need to Hang Pictures

• Pencil 
• Eye screws (also called screw eyes) for larger frames or triangle plated hangers for smaller frames
• Picture wire
• Hammer
• Level
• Ruler

Get Ready to Hang the Picture

Evaluate the room where you want to hang your new picture. Keep in mind the design and the layout of the furniture in the room. Notice the already existing pictures; you may need to move more than one picture to incorporate the new one into your decor.

How To Prepare a Picture Frame

Some picture frames come with a picture hanger already attached to the back.  This may look like a little silver metal piece with one jagged side (these are called saw tooth hangers), or may look like a metal wire attached on two ends with a slack between them. 

If your picture frame already has a hanger on the back, you can skip to the next section, How to Hang Pictures on the Wall.  For picture frames that do not come with a hanger already attached, you’ll need to prepare the frame yourself. 

For a small picture frame, you’ll want to use small triangle plated picture hangers.  You can see what triangle plated hangers look like and how to attach them in the video below. 

How to attach picture hangers to a frame:

How to attach screw eyes to a picture frame:  For hanging larger frames, you’ll want to use screw eyes for stringing the picture wire.  Place the screw eyes about 1/3 of the way from the top down the picture frame on both the right and left sides. Next, drill each screw eye into the frame by hand by turning it constantly and pressing firmly until the eye screw is secured in the frame.

How to attach picture wire:  No matter whether you chose eye screws or triangle plated hangers, you’ll want to string them with picture wire next.  Picture wire comes in various kinds of gauges and the size you choose depends on the size and weight of the frame to be hung.  Cut the wire about 1 – 1 1/2 times the width of the frame.  

Watch the video below to see how to attach picture wire to a frame:

How To Hang Pictures on the Wall

Now it’s time to choose exactly where to hang the picture on the wall. Once you have decided on the perfect spot, mark the wall lightly with a pencil of where you want the top of the picture frame to rest. With a level, make marks on the wall to ensure that the picture is straight.

Using a ruler, measure the distance from the top of the picture frame to the hanger.  Knowing that distance, you can measure the appropriate distance down from your pencil mark on the wall.  This measurement will tell you where to place the nail.  Hang the picture up on the nail, and make sure it is where you want it to be.  If the placement isn’t correct, take it down, re-measure, and try again.  After you’re satisfied with the picture frame’s location, use a level across the top of the frame to make sure your picture is straight.

Hanging pictures like a pro is a snap if you have the right tools and know the steps to follow.  Did you like our Home DIY Project: How to Hang Pictures?  If so, check out our other DIY home improvement projects. 

Home photo by trentsketch.

While using feng shui for your home, you will need to make changes associated to the five elements: earth, fire, water, metal and wood.

Since home is the place you like to come back to relieve yourself from the stress, it should be comfortable and relaxing, while allowing positive energy to flow freely.  Try these easy feng shui tips and see if you notice improvements in your home’s appearance.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Home

Front Door.  Better feng shui for your home starts with your front door, which is the first contact that you and others have with your home. The color of the door should be welcoming and have a calm presence. Keeping plants at the entrance attracts positive energy. Avoid having slippers and shoes lying around the door.

Living Room.  Your living room is where you and your family spend most of your time together. To allow positive energy to flow into this room, try these feng shui tips.  You will first need to declutter the room. Keep only required furniture and remove unnecessary books, papers and other items. Try to arrange the furniture in a circular or cozy and comfortable layout, rather than pushing all the furniture to the walls. Avoid using very heavy furniture, such as a marble coffee table.

Kitchen.  The next room is your kitchen, which should be bright and well lit.  White lights are preferable. Ensure that your appliances are in good working condition, throw away appliances which cannot be repaired and have been lying around from a long time.  Also keep it clean and tidy, with no items that belong in other rooms (books, unopened mail, kids’ backpacks, etc.)

Bedroom.  Your bedroom needs special attention since it’s your personal space. The colors used should be pastel, and should look inviting to you. Keep minimum furniture in the bedroom and move the television set to a different room. If you have cupboards or dressers with mirrors, ensure that they are not placed on the opposite or sides of your bed. Your bed should be placed against a wall, which will give a good nights sleep.

Open the windows of your bedroom everyday for a while and get the fresh air circulate in the room.  Read our other tips for decorating a peaceful bedroom.

Bathroom.  The bathroom (whether it’s attached to your bedroom or a common one) should have earthy colors on the walls. It should be kept clean and fragrant, with the help of aroma candles and white towels.  Editor’s Note: Energy that comes from toilet water is thought to be bad energy in feng shui. With that in mind, it is recommended to keep the toilet lid closed whenever not being used.

Kids’ Bedrooms.  Your childrens’ rooms should be tidy and painted with soft colors. Avoid using bunk beds or allowing children to sleep on mattresses on the floor as it restricts the circulation of energy. If you have a kids’ desk in the room, ensure that the child has his back to the wall while studying.

It just takes a few simple adjustments to use these feng shui tips for your home. You can instantly experience an enhanced quality of living and create a more inviting feel to your home.

Living room interior design photo by jinkazamah.

The first part of creating gorgeous magazine-quality tablescapes on a budget is to start with frugal supplies that look expensive. 

The second part is knowing how to design and arrange your inexpensive materials for maximum impact, as well as extra tablescaping tips and tricks of the pros.  Follow our step by step instructions below to learn how to design budget tablescapes.

Design Your Tablescape First

1.  Decide on which colors you want to use.  Stick to no more than 2-3 colors.

2.  Pick a centerpiece.  Often, the centerpiece you choose will determine what the rest of the table setting looks like.  Choose a vase of flowers, a potted plant, a tabletop mini water fountain, a ceramic statue, a filled basket, a candle holder, or something similar.

3.  Set out all supplies and make sure you have all the pieces you’ll need.  Although you have many options, only choose the items you want to use:

• Large Plates
• Small Plates Tip of the Pros:
  Use a beveled mirror circle or square under your centerpiece to add visual depth to your tablescape.
• Bowls
• Chargers
• Centerpiece
• Tablecloth
• Table Runner
• Placemats
• Napkins
• Napkin Rings
• Glasses
• Tea cups and saucers
• Flatware (Silverware)
• Candles and candle holders
• Flowers and vase
• Place cards
• etc.

Tips for Magazine-Quality Tablescapes

Your supplies don’t have to cost a  lot to look expensive.  As mentioned in part 1, make sure you opt for “rich” materials with unique touches.  The key to designing lush magazine-quality tablescapes is to layer your materials.  Linens will be layered on top of other linens, dishes will be stacked upon other dishes, etc. Here are some magazine table setting tips that you’ll want to remember:

1.  Use a beveled mirror circle or square under your centerpiece to add visual depth to your tablescape.

2.  Your centerpiece doesn’t have to be only one item; it can be a collection of items.  Use a grouping of candles, a collection of ceramic figures, etc.

3.  If using a floral centerpiece, use one extraordinarily tall stem of flowers along with regular height stems to draw the eye upward and really make a statement.

4.  Tie the centerpiece into the place settings by sprinkling something complementary around the centerpiece.  This could be flower petals, glitter, confetti, silk leaves, or anything else that matches the decor.

5.  Ivy bowls are inexpensive decorative touch and can be used to hold other items.  Line them with cloth napkins, then fill with favors, silverware, flowers, potpourri and more.

6.  Mismatch dishes with unique vintage and antique pieces to add variety and make your setting interesting.

7.  Use different shapes of chargers and plates.  A square charger and round plate look nice together, just as a round charger with a scalloped plate contrast well.

8.  Use 2 place mats at each setting and layer them.  For example, a rectangular red mat placed normally could be accented by a plaid cloth napkin place beneath in a diamond shape.

Don’t miss our tablescape how to next week, How to Properly Set a Table, with step by step instructions on how to put together a tablescape and proper etiquette for arranging formal place settings. 

Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven, and Works for Me Wednesday frugal tips at We are That Family.

If you’re a home decorating fan like me, you no doubt love looking at home and decorating magazines to get new ideas and inspiration.  Browsing through all the gorgeous photos is great, especially looking for beautiful table settings and tablescapes. 

However, you may think that you can’t create the same kinds of looks in your house because you don’t have an enormous decorating budget like the magazines.   Decorating can be luxurious on any budget, as long as you know the right tips and strategies.  Today, we’re going to teach you how to create beautiful tablescapes and table settings on a budget.

Start with Inexpensive Supplies that Look Expensive

The key to pulling off fabulous tablescapes without a lot of money is to use inexpensive supplies that look expensive.  What looks rich?  Pull out your favorite decorating magazine, such as Martha Stewart Living or Better Homes and Gardens, and cut out several photos of tablescapes that you like.  What do you notice about the table setting?  Do they use china, or antique tea cups, or gold-rimmed plates?  The elements you are drawn to will be the things you want to keep an eye out for when shopping for your “rich looking” supplies.

There are many ways to find your luxurious looking tablescape items on a dime.  Here are some frugal methods you can use:

1.  Plan ahead and buy on clearance.  A good storage and labeling system and a closet to store tablescaping supplies in will save you huge amounts of money.  Make purchases of holiday and seasonal table setting items once they go on clearance.  Pack carefully into storage containers and label so that you’ll be able to find them when you need them for the next year.

2.  Shop at discount retailers instead of home decorating stores.  Don’t get me wrong, I love IKEA as much as the next homemaker, but in reality it’s much cheaper to get great home decor elsewhere.  Try craft stores, such as Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics, and mass retailers such as Target and Walmart.  Their great selections of home decor items and table setting materials are much more affordable and will allow you to get a wide variety on a small budget.

3.  Buy dishes in pieces instead of boxed sets.  As a mom, I’m into tablescapes which use unbreakable Corelle dishes, because it means they’ll last longer around my children!  A great benefit of shopping at Walmart is that they offer dishes (including Corelle) in both boxed sets and individual dishes.

So if you only want to buy enough dishes for 2 place settings for a romantic date night tablescape, or just to try something different, you can purchase just the plates, bowls, etc. that you need.  This can amount to huge savings over buying an entire set, especially when you may not want certain pieces.

4.  Buy dishes, centerpieces and table linens at thrift stores or garage sales.  Always be on the lookout for great pieces you can incorporate into your tablescapes at garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. 

You’ll frequently be able to pick up whole or partial dish sets at rock bottom prices, including wedding china received as gifts that the couple never used.  You can often find ceramics, knick knacks, vases and more at thrift stores and garage sales that will work into a perfect centerpiece for your table setting.

5.  Opt for dark table linens, prints, and vinyl table cloths to minimize staining.  Stains can ruin the investment in nice linens, so opt for darker colors when possible or small prints which can camouflage any food or drink spots.  There are also nice looking vinyl tablecloths available now with flocked cloth backings.  They’re durable and wipe clean while still looking nice (perfect if you have children prone to spills).

6.  Use flowers from your garden as centerpieces instead of buying bouquets.  Fresh cut flowers from your garden are a free alternative to buying bouquets of cut flowers from a florist or floral department.  If you don’t have a flower garden, send your children out to pick some choke cherry sprays from the yard, dandelions, or other wild flowers that you can dress up.

7.  Invest in silk flowers for centerpieces that can be used over and over.  Some silk flowers are incredibly lifelike but will not wilt or die like their living counterparts.  Invest in flowers of different sizes, colors and varieties that you’ll be able to mix and match to get the most for your money.  Remember that silk flowers should be stored in covered containers when not in use, and can usually be washed in the dishwasher to freshen up and remove dust.

8.  Shop on eBay for used or deeply-discounted new tablescape supplies. eBay is a frugal decorator’s heaven for finding the luxurious bits and pieces you need to set your table at bargain prices. 

In the next part of Tablescapes: Budget Table Settings that Look Expensive, you’ll learn how to put together all the cheap supplies that you bought to form table settings pretty enough to be in a magazine. 

This article is linked to our bloggy friends:

• Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. 
• Thrifty Thursdays at Amanda’s Cookin.   
• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom. 
• Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven.

Table setting tablescape photo by tracyhunter.

Dutch Boy is looking for the ugliest room in America (aka the room in the biggest need of a makeover).  You can enter the contest here (ends 9/30/09).  The winner gets:

• Grand Prize: 12 gallons of Refresh paint and $5,000
• 2nd Place: 8 gallons and $2,500
• 3rd Place: 4 gallons and $1,000

My Mini-Home Makeover

Just to be clear, this article is NOT a paid advertisement.  However, after agreeing to help with the contest, Dutch Boy offered to let me try the paint myself.  So they’re sending me 4 gallons of Dutch Boy Refresh paint to try out! 

My husband and I haven’t decided which lucky room is going to get the makeover yet, but we’ll have plenty of before and after pictures for you.

Our New Home DIY Series

We’re also starting this spring and summer’s Home DIY Projects series, in which we teach you how to do useful DIY projects for a home makeover of your own.  The DIYs include:

• How to paint a room
• How to choose paint for your home
• How to hang pictures
• How to decorate a peaceful bedroom
• How to hang window treatments and curtains
• Using feng shui for home
• How to hang a towel rack
• 14 Home DIYs Every Homemaker Needs to Know

and many more.  Stay tuned for spring cleaning and home makeover season!

Photos copyright by and used with permission by Dutch Boy paint.

• The furniture in the bedroom should be arranged in such a way that the sleeping, dressing and relaxing areas are differentiated. Declutter the bedroom and get rid of any unused furniture.
• The largest piece of furniture should be the bed, the other furniture should complement it.
• The furniture and the walls should have pastel colors which are soothing to the eye. Monochromatic colors with different shades of the same color on the walls and furniture are also ideal.
• Use rich textures for your bedding teamed with fluffy pillows. Colorful comforters also of a rich fabric such as velvet or silk should be used.
• Use curtains for the windows, don’t leave them plain. The curtains should in white or pastel shades of a flowing and sheer fabric. The curtains can be long, they could even flow down to the floor. Blinds can also be used in the bedroom for getting a dim-light effect in the afternoons.
• Its better not to keep a television set in your bedroom, since it increases the noise decibels in the room which is not ideal for a peaceful bedroom. You can play some soft music or natural sounds CDs. It’s a good idea to install a small tabletop water fountain in the bedroom; the sound of the water flowing is soothing for the ears and can  make it easier to fall asleep.
• Avoid doing any other activities such as watching the television or working on the computer in the bedroom. Use the bedroom only for relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep.
• The lighting in the room is one of the most essential elements for the bedroom. Use soft yellow lights for the dressing table and the lampshades, and use these lights while you are relaxing or just before you go to sleep.
• Have mirrors around the room, they help in giving a better lighting effect to the room, as well as making it look spacious.
• You can also experiment with wallpapers and texture paints for your walls.

Go all out and invest your time to create a cozy and peaceful bedroom to come back to!  Having a relaxing end-of-day sanctuary where you can truly re-center yourself is definitely worth spending the time to decorate a peaceful bedroom.  Next, you’ll want to read about 5 easy ways to redecorate your living room.

Visit Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven and Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family. Top bedroom photo by jinkazamah. Country bedroom photo by One Planet Living in Sutton. 

It’s Time to Plan Your Summer Tablescapes!

Feeling summer approaching already?  Ready to create some fabulous summer tablescapes for entertaining?  Today we have a summer safari tablescape with animal print for some inspiration.  These photos are punchy with bright summer color against basic zebra print.  While your probably don’t have the frosted glass spiral table or the giant animal print rug, we share easy ways below to duplicate this great summer safari tablescape in your own home.

The look we’re going for is very African desert, safari outing – you get the idea.  To accomplish this we can pair burnt warm colors with bland animal prints, whites, and clears.  Textured linens in natural fibers and colors will also compliment this summer tablescape.

To Create a Safari Summer Tablescape:

• Start with a cream, wheat, or ivory tablecloth – textured fibers are best, such as burlap.
• Placemats should be of animal print in leopard, zebra or cheetah. 
• If you can’t find ready-made placemats in the appropriate  animal print, choose an animal print fabric.  Cut the fabric into squares approximately 12” wide, and stuff one square into each clear wine glass.  Spread a wider square (approximately 18” wide) in the middle of the table as a centerpiece, and cover with a square of beveled glass.
• Choose plates and bowls in a warm and saturated citrus summer color, such as orange, yellow, rust, or tomato red.
• As a nice safari touch, remove dark green leaves from any silk plant.  Lay the leaves out on the large bottom plate of each setting, then stack the next plate or bowl on top.

What ideas do you have for creating summer tablescapes for your warm-weather entertaining?  Let us know in the comments!

Check out our spring tablescapes and garden tablescapes while you’re here.  Visit Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch for more summer tablescapes.  Photos by peppma.

Spring Garden Wedding Tablescapes: Green Gardener’s Delight

Fresh green spring tablescapes are a garden lover’s dream!  Originally set up for wedding table settings, the green garden delight spring tablescapes are light and fresh.  Simple and understated, garden tablescapes are perfect for indoor or outdoor weddings and entertaining.  The key to getting garden tablescapes that pack such a powerful punch without a lot of setup is creating the seed packet place cards, which we show you how to make below with our step by step instructions.

How to Copy this Spring Tablescape:

• Use a white or ivory tablecloth.
• Use light green as the main color in the tablescape, against white and clear dishes to allow the color to pop.
• Fill glasses with solid green napkins.
• Choose bright spring colors in your floral centerpiece, such as pink, purple, yellow, and orange.  Use a colorful spring pot instead of a vase to hold the bouquet.
• For less formality, skip the plates and bowls in the setting.  In their place, present the seed packet place cards.  Necessary plates and bowls can be provided with the buffet or from the servers if your meal is plated.

How to make the Seed Packet Place Cards

1.  Choose seed packets with warm vibrant colors printed on the packages.

2.  Choose green sheer ribbon.  You can choose to use 2 ribbons on each to include a wide green ribbon and a narrow ribbon in a color which matches the centerpiece, such as pink, purple, or yellow.

3.  Find a precut scrapbooking shape in a spade, shovel, watering can, or other similar garden-related shape.  Purchase the paper cutouts pre-cut or using stencils and cardstock, cut out your own shapes.  Make sure the shape is large enough to write a name on, but small enough to fit on the front of the seed packet.

4.  Naming your guests.  On each garden cutout, write the guest’s name across the shape.

5.  Assemble the pieces.  Place the garden shape on top of a seed packet, and secure with a single (or double) ribbon tied around and into a bow in the front.

This fresh spring garden tablescape is sure to get your creative thoughts moving towards designing spring tablescapes for your entertaining!  Check out our other tablescapes before you leave.

Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. Tablescape photos by pinkpucca from Lara & Darren’s wedding.

Create Centerpiece Vases Filled with Flowers:

• Choose inexpensive vases from a craft store.
• Place silk flowers completely inside vase.
• Fill vase with Wonder Water or another similar product, following the directions on the package.  Wonder Water is a gel used for flower arranging which looks exactly like water, but will hold your floral design firmly in place.
• Allow product to set before moving vases (to avoid disrupting the arrangement).

How to Copy this Tablescape

What beautiful colors with the contrasting pink of the tulips and green from the stems!  To copy this style of this wedding’s table setting for your spring tablescapes, do the following:

• Use a beveled mirror under the centerpiece to reflect light and color.
• Choose tea light candle holders in a shade which complements the flowers.
• Select a bright vibrant shade for the flowers, and a pastel version of the same color for napkins to continue the color scheme to the outside of the table.
• Opt for a muted color for the tablecloth and stemware to allow the accent colors to pop.
• Scatter silk or real flower petals around the centerpiece to camouflage the edges of the mirror.

Wedding photos by tracyhunter.

1.  Turn the furniture around to face the other direction.  Changing the orientation of a room gives you new spaces to define and a new way of looking at things.  With a simple change that is absolutely free, you can create the feeling of being in a totally new and different room.

For example:  If your living room furniture is all arranged to be facing your patio doors, try turning around the orientation of the entire room.  In that case, facing the room away, perhaps with the sofa back to the patio doors, would have a strong effect on the room.

2.  Choose accents (such as throw blankets or pillows) in rich, contrasting colors.  Choosing a bright, bold, or contrasting color that goes against the color scheme of the living room, will bring new life and feeling to the space.   You can see in the photo at right that they have chosen a rich red color for the pillows to really stand out against the neutral color palate of tans and browns. 

The great thing about decorating in a neutral color scheme is that you can change the feeling easily with accent colors.  This decorating trick will allow you to refresh a room when the seasons change with minimal work.  In the summer, juicy bright teals and corals could breathe new life into your decor, then in fall rich oranges and chocolate browns could bring in the warm fall colors from outside.

To use this trick:  Use throw pillows on an existing sofa or larger pillows to replace the back cushions on a couch.  You could also try draping a blanket over the back of the sofa.  Even using a full slipcover for a sofa, love seat, or recliner, will change the feeling of a room dramatically.  Any of these methods will have the same effect to draw the eye to something contrasting and different.

3.  Use mirrors to create effects.  Hang a large mirror on an otherwise blank wall to give the appearance of more space.  The photo at left shows not only a large mirror hung on the wall, but also a mirror tucked into the unlikely space of the fireplace. 

The round decorative mirror pictured above also demonstrates this method’s benefits.  In the reflection, you can see a hint of not only another wall in the room, but also outside through either a window or porch.  Hanging a large mirror right against the corner of the wall can add visual depth in the smallest of spaces. Try experimenting with mirrors, both big and small, in your living room for a quick and easy interior design change.

4.  Trade furniture with other rooms.  Switching similar pieces between rooms can have a big difference on the room feeling new and different.  You may have pieces in a basement, attic, or storage that are not currently being used.  If not, even something simple like switching the bookcase in a bedroom with a bookshelf in a living room is a good starting place. 

5.  Paint only one wall with a contrasting, strong color for a big punch with minimal effort.  Of course you don’t have to use bright pink (as shown in the photo), but it demonstrates the idea!  Choose one wall to paint in a bold color to add an entirely new look to your living room.  This isn’t probably a method you’ll want to do every season, but after living in the same home for a long time, it can add much-needed variety.  Choose one wall as the focal point for a color change, or if you’re really adventurous – paint the ceiling in a different (but light / pastel) color from the walls. 

Mirrors photo by Wonderlane. Couch photo by tiffa130.  Pink wall photo by Jolante.