The role of window treatments is powerful in any room of your home. The perfect window treatment creates interest without demanding too much attention while the wrong window treatment causes design issues ranging from minor problems to major dysfunction.

When you want a new look in your great room, changing out accessories and window treatments can transform a tired boring room into a warm and welcoming space.

Before you make any firm decisions, remove any fabric or hardware from the windows in the room. Bare windows will help you create a mental image of possible outcomes.

Considering green trends and an interest in sustainable design, some of the most popular window treatments involve natural organic products. Bamboo and other wood grains are used in new designs for woven shades. Texture accents, a range of colour variations in the wood and the tightness of the weave all influence the amount of diffused light flowing into the room.

Of course, using wood in window treatments isn’t a ground-breaking idea. Wood blinds have been popular for a few decades. The newest ideas transfer wood into popular styles like Roman shades. Choosing a colour, texture and style for a window shade can add enough interest to create a finished look when the shade is lowered. Raising the shade allows natural light without hiding part of the window with unnecessary fabric.

If a window shade design is too simple, you can opt for more traditional curtain panels. Keep the design fresh by choosing a lightweight fabric in a bright colour. The impact of stylish new curtains, curtain rods and hardware will be lost if you opt for a drab heavy colour.

Creating window treatments by repurposing other items continues to be a design trend. For instance, table runners, head scarves, or long pieces of sleek satin or a billowing chiffon, tied off at the top corner of a window can make an impressive window treatment. Antique lace or other unique materials can create a more intimate environment.

When it comes to updating window treatments in your home, you are only limited by your imagination. Whether you hire a designer to handle every detail or you create an original design, changing window treatments can make a personal style statement and update a room at the same time.

Author’s Bio

Rigette Saycon is a regular writer for NC Design Online, North Carolina’s premiere resource guide for interior design and home décor.

First, consider changing your window coverings. Many times, people allow their drapes, curtains and blinds to get outdated or discoloured from the sun. By updating your window coverings, you can change the whole look of a room, and really brighten things up, literally, with colour, and with sheer window treatments that will let in more light. A splash of colour in your curtain fabrics will improve the look; even a change in style from drapes to light-weight curtains can make a huge difference. You can also consider shutters, vertical or horizontal blinds, roman shades or a variety of other window coverings that will show your spruced up style.

In addition to window treatments, you may want to consider a new coat of paint. Paint can easily change the look of your room, even if it’s just a fresh coat of the same colour. You’ll be surprised how much a fresh coat will spruce up the look of your home.

Carpeting is another place to look for improving the appearance of your home. You can choose from a variety of wall-to-wall applications or an area rug. Even if your flooring has become dull and you’re not looking to spend the money to replace or refinish the surface, an area rug will draw your attention from the floor and make the space look fresh and renewed.

The exterior of your home can be spruced up by updating some or all of the landscaping. If there are overgrown shrubs, they can be removed in lieu of smaller, more artistic plants. Sometimes just reseeding parts of the lawn can really improve the curb appeal of a tired yard.

Finally, consider cleaning up clutter both inside and out. It’s amazing what we accumulate in a short period of time. Have a yard sale and get rid of things you just don’t use. Cleaning up clutter will make it seem like you have more space, and with the light coming in through those freshly dressed windows, you’ll want everything to be in its place.

• Keep the modern look timeless. Bedroom renovation can get expensive; especially when you invest in a look that only goes with the season you remodel it in. To make a modern bedroom look timeless, make sure to keep it neutral. Keep it simple, from the low Japanese style bed sets to the Fung Shui spaced motif.

• Get rid of the clutter. There’s nothing that can cancel out a modern bedroom set like clutter. A true modern bedroom should be well spaced, simplistic and free of clutter. Consider putting in extra shelving along the walls, or hide the hamper in the closet and out of your eyesight.

• What’s the feeling here? Does your bedroom evoke a mixture of harmony and chaos? Modern bedrooms should serve many purposes, with one being a calm energy to relax in. If you don’t feel good about your bedroom from the moment you enter it, it’s time to take out furniture, knick-knacks and miscellaneous items that don’t go with the rest of the room. Keeping your room harmonious is part of being well designed, with a trend that will never go out of style.

• Take out distractions. This trend goes hand in hand alongside identifying a harmonious feeling in your bedroom. Take out anything that distracts your bedroom from total calm and harmonious emotions. Keep your bedroom TV-free by reserving that down time to the living room. Leave your laptop and work related books, papers and notes in your home office as well.

• Consider natural flooring. Neglecting your flooring is a common mishap for many Do-It-Yourselfers, but don’t fall into that trap! Flooring is an important part of the overall modern look your bedroom will exude, so consider replacing your 10-year old lambskin rug for bamboo. The natural flooring will make you feel instantly calm with its Zen quality.

• Consider transforming your bedroom into an eco-friendly one. It’s not difficult to trade in your carpet flooring for eco-friendly bamboo or using wicker baskets to recycle old papers.
• Mix and Match. Don’t be afraid to experiment with colour; after all, your bedroom should reflect your taste. If you have a black and white bedding set, bring in a black and white decorative mirror and place above your bed; install a black or white sculpture to place on your nightstand and complete the look with dim lighting that offers the same colour scheme.

• Don’t be afraid of colour. 2011 brought together simplicity with colour in the modern bedroom world, and lavender quickly became an instant trend. Feel free to match your bedroom set (or mix and match) from light to dark purples, grey or white.

• The Asian theme is always in style. Don’t be afraid to bring in bamboo separators to help distinguish your bedroom from your bathroom, or use bright lime greens, purples or reds to help a smaller bedroom appear larger. The Asian theme is always a popular modern design, and can easily be adorned with structural wall art, low-to-the-ground beds and bamboo.

• Focus on design. Don’t make your modern bedroom too busy – that’s for a more traditional bedroom. Instead, stick with abstract or simple designs. Place them on your wall, above your bed or in your bathroom for a 3D effect. If you choose black and white wallpaper, make sure to bring in some colour somewhere – with the pillows, bookshelf or mirrors that hang from your walls.

Author’s Bio

Zach D. writes for Design55, an online modern bedroom furniture and homewares shop.

The popularity of learning from home is growing. With single parents going back to school and continuing their education, learning at home is convenient and cost effective. Just as important as it is to choose the right college or course is to choose the right furniture to help you succeed in your e-learning experience. With home office furniture constantly changing, there are many new options for the at home student that can offer organization and comfort. Here are a few of the popular designs available for your home:

Executive Desk:

If space and funds are limited, an executive desk may be the choice for you. With simple lines, compact design and enough space to add organizational shelving and containers, it will be sure to keep your studies in order. You can add more storage with an organizer hutch or shelving.

L-Shaped Desks:

Some home students don’t have the luxury of a home office. The design of an L-shaped desk allows you to utilize a corner of your room to use as an office. With more surface area than an executive desk you can add more organization and versatility.

U-Shaped Desk:

This style is a bit bulkier but offers a large array of styles. You can choose one with a hutch, with or without drawers, small or large, wood or metal. The choices are as vast as the space you get. If you have a dedicated room for the office this would be a great center piece that will keep you feeling and working like a professional.

Office Chairs:

There are hundreds of types of office chairs available these days. From traditional to contemporary, choosing the right chair is almost as hard as choosing the desk. It is however more important. The chair is where you will be spending countless hours studying, writing papers, and learning everything you can.

When choosing an office chair you want to take into consideration the comfort, style, and functionality. A high back chair on casters is the preferred chair for the at home student. Depending on your taste you can choose from leather back, or mesh back chairs. If you prefer staying cool and allowing more air to circulate you may want to choose the mesh backing to avoid feeling confined and smothered. It is not suggested to choose a chair that makes you too comfortable, you may just fall asleep and get nothing done.

Continuing your education is an important step towards securing your future and providing for your family. When deciding which classes to take, which school is right for you, and which method is the best for you to succeed, take into consideration the furniture that you will be spending all of your time in. Think about the organization you will need, the comfort you deserve and the tools you require to succeed.

Author’s Bio

Author Terry Southerland is a career counselor who writes for thebestdegrees.org, a site providing lists of online degree programs as well as rankings and reviews for many fields, such as online business administration degrees.

After spending the last weekend cleaning my house, I realized how tired I am of the layout. After visiting friends’ homes I always feel they have more space and less clutter; their homes are friendly and inviting with a nice sense of style and smell. It’s depressing to come home to the workweek clutter that has accumulated around every bend and the dusty wall hangings that have been on every wall of every place I’ve ever lived. It’s time for a spruce up, a cheap spruce up!

Phase One

The first step in your décor update should be the hardest. It won’t be the most fun you’ve ever had, so take your time and put on some good music. You will need to get rid of the clutter that has mysteriously taken over your realm of living. If you’re finished with the magazines, shelve them or donate them to a local library. Get rid of the paperwork that has taken over your kitchen table and that spot your cat likes to sit next to your bed. Put the books on the bookshelf where they belong and take all the weird odds and end off the bookshelf, then toss them or find a better home for them. The number one thing you can do to spruce up is to simplify. Once you get rid of the odd clutter and have a sense of organization again, you will be ready to move onto phase two of the décor upgrade.

Phase Two

Now that the clutter has moved on to a better place and your home is appearing so much more spacious that it inspires you to have sprint races with your cat and do cartwheels, it is time to clean the place up and prepare for phase three. Dust everything and clean your floors. Don’t forget the curtains and blinds. Now that everything is sparkling and shiny, create wall space. You are not 15 anymore (I apologize if you are) so get rid of the black light posters hanging from thumbtacks in your living room. If you have to keep these guys around, frame them with a simple black frame. Try to create a theme in your rooms. If you’re feeling crafty, purchase some fabric and make some new stellar curtains to match your theme.

Phase Three

Rearrange your furniture. Try placing your bed against the opposite wall, or switching your living room around. Place rugs around the house at entrances and put an interesting picture book on your coffee table. Try to use one theme and one main color in each room. Ultimate awesomeness can be achieved by painting the wall or walls a new and refreshing color. This can take a bit of time but friends should be welcome to join. I like adding local art around my home and creating open spaces in each room. It will be more inviting. Fruit racks and flowers add a sense of comfort to kitchens, just as matching bathroom décor adds a feeling of cleanliness to your bathroom. When all else fails, go to yard sales and secondhand furniture stores to chose a completely new look. Refinishing your old pieces can be a fun weekend project.

Remember, less is more.

Author’s Bio

Stacey Cavalari holds a B.A in Communications and currently writes for Viamedic.com, a safe facilitator for consumers to obtain FDA-approved medications such as Viagra, Cialis and Levitra Online. Stacey uses her communications and research skills to cover health and wellness on the Viamedic.com Blog.

Physical Space Inventory

The physical space of a home includes room layouts, room contents, room functions and room personalities. The home as a whole may or may not have an overall personality, including over-aching themes or moods.

Draw a simple diagram depicting each room’s layout. Jot down on a pad or use software to inventory the general contents of each room. Consider taking one or more photos of each room. For each room, besides inventorying its contents, characterize the room itself, its personality.

Consider how the room is used now and what type of atmosphere currently exists.

Personal Inventory

Each occupant of the living space has his or her own style, personality and sensibility. The personalities of the occupants of a room can factor into making personal living spaces more personal and meaningful.

Unique information about household members includes observations about the person, and how the room occupants engage the space. Observe room contents and use. What makes the occupants happy? Include favourite music, photos, genres, books, fragrances, and activities.

Living Harmony

Develop objectives to make living space more upbeat by using inventories, queries and incorporating Earth principles to harmonize elements. Earth, wind, fire and water are often associated with natural design elements.

Humans and animals are also a part of the Earth balance. The five senses of people can be critical principles when strategizing for an uplifting room makeover. Engage all five senses or a handful of design principles to create an uplifting experience.

Mirror outdoors with natural elements, colours, patterns, textures, and sounds. Natural browns, greens, blues, flower colours, vegetation, animal prints, and assorted fabrics are useful references. Blue is considered a universally soothing colour, for example, while red is considered more exciting. This information can be used with knowledge gleaned from household inventories.

Birds, cats, dogs, fish, rabbits, gerbils and other animals, which can be kept indoors or outdoors, are natural elements of Earth balance. Balconies or patios can be welcoming locations for bird feeders and wind chimes.

The selection of rugs, curtains, wall paper, furnishings, and accents can appeal to the five senses when enhancing home mood. A shag blue rug can provide an outdoorsy uplifting affect, while appealing to the senses of sight and touch. Adding a mirror provides silver “sky” and water elements. Adding greenery such as live, flowering, fragrant or citrus plants to the home can blend Earth and sensory elements.

Vases, chandeliers, lighting, glassware, wall decor, clocks, and candle holders can tune up mood. Indoor rainbows include colorful decorating, accent splashes, and stained glass to blend water and colour earthiness. A glass candy dish filled with classic or colourful mints, gummy bears, or potpourri can excite the senses. Floral or other arrangement can produce the same affect. Artificial arrangements with colourful glass beads in a vase can be sprayed with room freshener, or stems dipped in essential oil such as lavender, citrus or eucalyptus.

A brown leather recliner near favourite reading material interplays uplifting elements. Add a tabletop crystal, window element, fish tank, and shag accent rug.

Place scents around the home in sachets, under couches, within pillows or cases, and under beds. Sprinkle lavender scented powder on carpet before vacuuming. Spray fan blades with essential oil or freshener before using.

Chimes, waterfalls, and crystal or glass music boxes are sound generators with earthy touches and visual appeal. Match music to what uplifts listeners.

Author’s Bio

Loretta Pleasant is an avid garage sale fan, regularly scouring her city for unique finds and great deals. Weirdest thing she ever bought at a yard sale: a dinner plate with George W. Bush’s picture covering it. She is a content contributor for YardSaleSearch.com.

High quality

Its widely know that installing granite countertops can increase the home’s value upwards of 10%. The dense stone material utilized is highly valued because it is so hard to extract for commercial use. Granite is often found inside of other large rocks, amongst large rock piles. Heavy machinery is required to cut and move slabs. Another reason that granite increases home value is that it one of the strongest, densest materials on the market, with only diamonds being harder in the naturally occurring environment. The stone is also heat resistant, which allows one to place hot dishes on the surface without concern of permanent damage. Additionally, home buyers are increasingly attracted to the natural beauty of granite, which is smooth, lavish and available in a wide range of unique grains and patterns.

Choices

Your countertops may be outfitted with two different types of granite: consistent granite, which contains the same patterns on every piece, or variegated granite, which exhibits an assortment of colour streaks. Variegated granite provides distinct aesthetic appeal but is more difficult to find complementary pieces for a large surface. These countertops may contain a flat finish, which is smoother but less resistant to stains. Another option is a polished finish, which is glossy and more resistant to wear. Homeowners are advised to visit different warehouses and look at several slabs of the granite they are considering. Each piece is distinctive and this will give potential buyers a better idea of what they can expect from the finished result.

Installation

Kitchen countertop installation is a process that will require careful planning on the part of the homeowner, as well as the expertise of a professional. The installers will first need to make a template of the measurements necessary for the exact granite cuts. It’s crucial that these measurements be accurate, since altering the dimensions later will result in additional cost and labour. During the remodeling process, old countertops will need to be removed, as well as appliances such as sinks, faucets and dishwashers. Extra care must be utilized when handling the granite, as it is exceedingly heavy and impact could result in permanent damage.

Author’s Bio

Erick D. Smith lives in Southern California and blogs about home improvement tips and information including the benefit of granite kitchen countertop installation in San Diego. There are many different options when it comes to picking granite and figuring out what the perfect match for your home can get tricky. Contacting a few local stone companies that install San Diego countertops can give you a good idea about where to start.

Unless you have an architecture or construction design background you will need to hire somebody to design your new room. There are some contractors who include architectural design in their services but using an independent architect will give you better results. Architects supply blueprints, which are a must for builders and are a great way to show government agencies exactly what your building plans look like.

Since you are thinking of going to all the trouble of building an entirely new space attached to your home, you should try to consider every possible pro and con of the design and how the space might be used. You might want to go so far as to consider what furniture you would like to fit in the room. Is it going to be a play area for the children or the formal dining room you always wanted? It’s best to fill in all the pieces before construction begins.

Another option to throw on the table when considering a new room is green building construction. If you are a homeowner, it is worth considering the benefits of green building when you start thinking about plans to improve your home. This movement has a huge (and growing) public following and a number of construction companies are certified green builders. Taking this route means you will be worry free if the demand and price for resources like power and water continue to increase. For example, over time if solar panels are located in the right areas on your house/property, you can save hundreds of dollars on your electricity bill, thanks to this renewable resource.

Needless to say, looking into how you can make the newest addition to your home as environmentally friendly as possible is beneficial for you and the environment. You will have to weigh the cost/benefit ratio for yourself, your home, and your environment before coming to a decision. Although green technology is becoming more popular, it can be an expensive venture. Keep in mind though the benefit is it lowers long-term energy costs and in the end will save you money.

There are many options to consider when doing a remodel. Whichever way you decide to build your new addition to your home, make sure it works for you!

Author’s Bio

Erick D. Smith lives in Southern California and writes about home improvement and remodeling in San Diego. If you live in Southern California, before making any room additions in San Diego remember to consult with all the proper agencies, including your HOA (if you have one), so you receive all the necessary permits.

Kitchen Renovations

A spacious kitchen is a big bonus and something that all homebuyers look for. For larger kitchen spaces, building a peninsular kitchen counter is a great way to augment countertop workspace.

But if your kitchen isn’t big, you can still enhance its functionality, by placing appliances such that they offer the greatest convenience in meal preparations. You should also create sufficient storage space for kitchen knick-knacks. You can also replace your old kitchen cabinets with oak, pine or any solid wood.

Bathroom Refurbishing

Replace the old tiles in your tub and shower area with new ones and revamp your bathroom floor with travertine, ceramic or sheet vinyl. You don’t have to buy expensive tiles and flooring material – hard-wearing products with a minimalist design can do the trick. Adding medicine cabinets in a sparse bathroom or changing your old wall paper will suitably refurbish your bathroom without costing you a small fortune.

Resurfacing Concrete

Resurfacing the worn out concrete around your house will lend your home a new look and make buyers take notice. In this regard you can:

• Enhance the appearance of your driveway with a cobblestone finish
• Give your old walkway a quaint brick look
• Do up your patio with a smooth slate finish

Flooring Fixes

Homes with carpeted floors are viewed more positively by homebuyers while many real estate agents claim that most value is attached to hardwood floors. Carpeting is a more cost-effective option to hardwood- affordable and attractive carpeting can be an important factor in enhancing the appeal of your home.

Paint Job

This is a no-brainer but it is surprising how many homeowners compromise on the quality of the paint job. Fresh coats of paints with a two-coat paint job improve the appearance of your home. A tip with regard to paints is to use low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints that are environment-friendly. This will make your home more appealing to eco-conscious home buyers.

The possibilities are endless when it comes to revamping your home and adding to its value. Make sure that you approach your home remodeling and refurbishing process after careful research and budgeting.

Author’s Bio:

Burger Davis Sotheby’s International Realty is a leading French property specialists who offers an exclusive selection of luxury villa rentals throughout the south of France.

Wood flooring is something that looks great in homes.  It has a nice clean finish, and can really make a room pop! Unfortunately, wood flooring can be expensive and will need to be refinished in the future.  Since wood flooring doesn’t look nice forever and it’s on the pricey side, a lot of people are considering laminate flooring instead.

What are the benefits of laminate flooring?

• Laminate floors are extremely durable unlike wood flooring.  They take stains, scratches, impact and sunlight very well and are very resistant to them.
• They are very easy to install and are put together like a puzzle.
• There are no chemicals or glues that are needed.  They just snap together.
• If you need to replace a board, you just pop it out and replace it.
• They do not need to be waxed or polished.
• You don’t need to nail or staple the wood down.
• Laminate flooring is much more affordable and will last longer.

How much does laminate flooring usually cost?

The cost depends on the quality you’d like as well as the type and colour.  It can range anywhere from .80 to $6.00 pr square foot.  But, if you’d like to get it professionally installed, you could look at $2-$5 more per square foot.

Not to mention, if you are having people install it, you need to figure in the costs of moving furniture around, appliances and other things as well.  This isn’t much more, but can add a couple more dollars to your budget.

Laminate flooring is a great choice!  If you’d like wood flooring but don’t want to replace it and pay the expensive price, consider laminate and pay a fraction of the cost!

Author’s Bio

This is a guest post written by Hannah Munson.  Hannah runs HowMuchIsIt.org a website that is designed to help you find the cost of just about anything from daycare to electronics.