If you’re like most families, you probably spend quite a bit of time in the kitchen. So why not make it more interesting by adding some color to the room? Maybe you don’t want a drab and dreary kitchen, but you don’t know quite how to add the right touch. Here are some easy ways to add color to your kitchen so you can change your décor from boring to fabulous.

Add Color by Dressing Up Your Table
Dress up your kitchen table as an easy way to add color to your kitchen. Add a colorful tablecloth or placemat set, or display some colorful dishware. Add flowers in a vase or basket to the center of your wood dining table to add some instant color to the room. Look for colors that will both add interest to the look but complement the overall décor.

Add Color with a Backsplash
Don’t let your kitchen backsplash be boring. You can always keep things simple with a neutral-colored tile or laminate, but you also have to option of venturing out a little and making things colorful. Tiles and laminates come in all different colors. If you want a totally unique look, try arranging colored glass that’s been broken up in a random pattern on the wall. Not only will you create a personalized, one-of-a-kind backsplash, but you’ll be able to get a some different colors worked into the décor.

Paint an Accent Wall a Different Color
If your kitchen is painted a neutral color, then paint an accent wall to incorporate some color into the décor. Choose the wall that’s the least covered with cabinets or appliances. Be sure to pick an accent color that will work well with the rest of your kitchen’s décor. For a more subtle look, go with a matching color. But if you want the wall to really stand out, pick a color that’s complementary.

Take the Doors Off the Cabinets
When you take the doors off your kitchen cabinets, you can display all your colorful dishes and other tableware. If you have neutral dishes, add some pop by painting the insides of the cabinets a contrasting color. You don’t need to remove every cabinet door in your kitchen, but instead choose anywhere from one to four prominent cabinets and make them your “color cabinets.”

Use Window Treatments to Add Interest
Another great option is to utilize the window area in your kitchen to add color. For your valance or drapes, choose a color that will really stand out in the décor. Red or purple window treatments would be a great way to add color to the room if you have, for example, a black-and-white or otherwise neutral kitchen.

Just because you want to incorporate some color into your kitchen doesn’t mean you have to redecorate the entire room. Rather, build upon what you already have to add your own colorful touches here and there.

About the Writer….
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior decorating  business for 40 years. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They carry a large selection of American made solid oak furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room furniture. Whether you’re looking for a dining table for your formal dining room or a sofa for your living room  then they have everything you need.

You can really add some interest and style to a room by adding a mural. Murals can be used in many different types of rooms, from the kitchen to the bedroom. This is a very popular way to add some design to a large area. Read on for some basic tips on decorating with murals in your home.

What Is a Mural?
Any type of design or picture that’s painted or drawn directly on the wall is called a mural. Murals can be composed of anything, from a beach or ocean scene to a pattern of dots or stripes on the wall. In terms of application, murals can be painted on, drawn on, or even stuck on the wall.

Tips for Painting or Drawing a Mural on the Wall
If you decide to paint or draw your own mural, be sure that you properly research your supplies. There is specific paint that is suitable for murals, and you also want to be sure the paint will go over whatever surface you’re painting on. If you really want to do your own mural but you’re not sure about your artistic abilities, there are a variety of stencils and kits that offer pictures you can blow up and trace on the wall available at most home décor and arts and crafts stores. More often than not, a stencil is a wise decision, as not many people can freehand a large mural.

Sticking Your Mural on the Wall
If painting and drawing really aren’t your thing, you always have to option of using wall decals or wallpaper murals. You pretty much just have to hang these murals on the wall, but they look just like real painted-on murals. For wallpaper murals, all you need is glue and water, as they are hung just like regular wallpaper. Decals, on the other hand, come with an adhesive already on the back of them and tend to be more like stickers.

Hire a Professional to Make Your Mural
If money is no object when it comes to creating a mural, you might want to hire a professional artist to do the work. This is a great option, particularly if you have a very large mural you want done or if you’re not artistic at all. Just be aware that this approach can quickly get expensive, particularly if the mural ends up being large and intricate. Some murals can take a few days. It all depends on just how detailed they are and how large the space is. Therefore, you want to be sure that you budget accordingly.

Where to Add Murals in Your Home
Murals will make a great addition to just about any room in your home. You might consider adding a great nursery mural to welcome a new little one. Or you might want to add a mural to that large empty wall in your dining room that fits the style of the room. Bathrooms and kitchens are also great places to put murals. A wall mural doesn’t necessarily need to be huge, nor does it need to be the only thing on the wall, but you do want to be sure it’s highlighted in the room.

With so many options, you don’t necessarily have to be artistic to add a mural to your home. If you have the budget, you can always hire a professional artist. Or you can choose to go the wallpaper or decal route instead. Murals will add some design style to your décor and are also a good way to demonstrate your personality in your home.

About the Writer
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the furniture and interior design industry. He owns and operates his family owned furniture store. They offer a huge assortment of solid amish furniture for your living room, bedroom and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you searching for bookcases for your family room or a oak tv stand for your family room then they probably have everything you need.

Do you like to do your own decorating projects yourself? This is a great way to ensure that your style and personality always come through your decorating. Try any of these 5 great DIY decorating projects for the home.

1. Paint the Walls
The easiest yet most effective way to give room a whole new look is by painting. Remember, the color of the walls is going to influence the entire room’s décor. If you begin a painting project, you want to be sure you do it properly and prepare the walls as needed. You may need to fill in any cracks and then sand them down, as you want the wall to be crack-free and smooth. You will need to first put on a coat of primer, and depending on the color and the saturation of the wall, you may have to put on a few coats of paint.

2. Install Molding on the Walls
Molding instantly adds a new touch to your walls. If your wall is boring, molding will give it some interest and appeal. You might install crown molding to the top of the wall or go a different route and install a chair rail in the middle. Before nailing it to the wall, paint or stain the molding first. The nail holes can then be touched up with paint afterward.

3. Personalize the Lampshades
Are you having trouble finding the exact kind of lampshade you want? Or do you just want something that shows your style? Consider designing your own lampshade. An easy way to do this is to find a white or cream-colored lampshade. Then cut out designs or figures with dark paper such as black or red. Then tape the paper to the inside of the lampshade and you will have created a designer lampshade that reflects your own personal style. Another way to personalize the lampshade is by adding embellishments and ribbon to it. This is wonderful way to accent a mission end table in your family room.

4. Make Your Own Artwork for the Walls
You might not be able to draw or paint very well, but that doesn’t mean you can’t come up with your very own artwork for the walls or to place on a wood bookcase. With a little creativity, you can use items you already have. You might hang photographs, postcards, and book images on the wall. Another easy idea is to put together a collage of items found in nature. Or take a frame or blank canvas and wrap it in a patterned fabric that fits the style of the room. If you choose two or three different patterns and different sized frames, you can hang them together in a cluster on the wall.

5. Make Your Own Window Treatments
For those who aren’t handy with a needle and thread or a sewing machine, there are many other techniques you can use to make your own curtains that don’t involve sewing. To create instant interest around a window, simply take a long silk scarf and drape it over a window curtain. You might also consider using such things as placemats and tablecloths to create instant window treatments. If you do happen to sew, you can pick out whatever fabric and pattern you like and make your own window treatments.

A DIY decorating project doesn’t have to necessarily be difficult. These are only 5 of the many different types of projects you can take on so you can decorate your home in your own personal style.

If you are looking to install a kitchen island, there are a wide variety that you can choose from. It’s important to remember that not every kitchen island is going to be decorated and used in the same way. Some islands are intended primarily for storing items underneath; on the other hand, other may need some more style added to them. Are you looking to add style to your kitchen island? Read on for some great decorating tips for you to consider.
Turn the Kitchen Island into a Sitting Area
Depending on the size of your island, turning it into a sitting area for the family may be an easy project. All you need do is clean off the top of it and add a few stools. Then the family can sit around it and enjoy meals together. This is a great option, especially if you don’t have a table in the kitchen and are limited to your formal oak dining table. When used in this way, a kitchen island offers a convenient space that can be utilized in the best way possible. To add even more style to the room, try setting the island with placemats.

Add an Appliance to the Kitchen Island
It may not seem much like decorating to place an appliance on your kitchen island, but this serves as both a functional and decorative way to store a great appliance that you may already own. You can’t just put any old appliance on the counter area. Rather, a fancy stainless steel toaster or blender will be sure to add to the décor. If you decide to decorate with an appliance, you do need to be sure that the island has outlets (or that there is at least one accessible nearby).

Decorate the Kitchen Island with Kitchen Utensils and Products
Along the same lines as the appliances, you can decorate your kitchen island with utensils or other products. As with the appliances, do be selective in terms of which items you want to display. Attractive items like a spice rack or decorative containers and baskets are a great idea for the kitchen island. Other items that might work well include napkin or paper towel holders, or canisters of dried goods (like sugar and flour). You just want to be sure that the space doesn’t end up being a catch-all. Instead, it should be kept neatly organized and attractive to the eye.

Decorate the Kitchen Island with Flowers
If you’re really stuck on what to do with your kitchen island, you might want to try adding a nice vase or basket of flowers to it. Although fresh flowers are more appealing than fake ones, remember that they’ll need to be replaced every few days. Either of these options will instantly add both color and style to an otherwise bare countertop.

A kitchen island is just like any other area in the room that needs attention when decorating. When you leave an island completely empty on top, it tend to be boring and may even bring down the look of the kitchen. If you utilize the space you have, you will create a look for your kitchen that’s much more appealing.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has been in the home furnishings and interior design industry for four decades. He owns and manages a popular furniture store in California. They have a huge inventory of handcrafted Amish built solid oak furniture for your bedroom, dining room and living room.

In home decorating circles, feng shui design has become a popular way to style a room. The basic premise of feng shui is to effectively utilize the space in your home to maintain good chi, or energy. There are certain things that a homeowner must or must not do in order to have the right feng shui in the room. To maintain good chi in your home, consider the following interior decorating tips.

Include Color in the Room
When decorating with feng shui, there are certain colors that are recommended to promote good energy in the room. All of the colors stand for different things. For instance, the color red stands for good luck, which is why red is such a popular color in feng shui design. If you want a fresh and peaceful look, decorate with green. Use yellow if you’re looking for another good luck color.

None of the colors used in feng shui should ever be distracting or unappealing to the homeowner. Instead, use colors that have a comfortable feel to them.

Keep the Room Simple
Typical feng shui design does not involve overly crowded spaces full of stuff. You want to keep the room very simple, with only basic wood furniture and a few accessories. In the feng shui practice, a room should never be cramped, as that will only create negative energy in the room.

When implementing a feng shui design, start out with the basics, such as a piece of furniture and maybe another added piece such as a oak dressers to begin with. Then you’ll want to add a few more items, but only as needed, making sure not to go overboard on the décor items and accessories.

Use Natural Materials
It’s important to use natural materials wherever possible when practicing feng shui. The negative chi that can be found with artificial products can be kept away with natural materials such as bamboo, hemp, and organic fabrics. If you want to practice feng shui in your home, you might want to consider installing a bamboo wood floor or having an organic cotton slipcover over your couch.

Decorate with Plants
If you want create a room with good chi, then add some plants to your décor. As living objects that help the environment, plants make a wonderful addition to any feng shui room.

To achieve a unique look in each room, you can use all different types of plants. A small potted plant might work great in one room and in another you might put a large standing tree in the corner. No matter what kind of plant you choose, it will make a great addition to any feng shui room.

Decorate and Design According to the Bagua
The energy map for a particular room is known as a bagua. Those who are really serious about decorating with feng shui need to follow this bagua specifically according to the shape and size of the room. For instance, a long dining room isn’t going to have the same energy map as a small kitchen. Use the bagua to determine the life areas in your home. Then you’ll be able to start decorating the different rooms according to feng shui practices.

As feng shui design has become more and more popular, it is becoming known more as a decorating style rather than a philosophy. By learning more about this practice and incorporating it into your home, you’ll be able to create some positive chi and embrace the feng shui life.

One important element that many new parents think about is how they are going to decorate the baby’s nursery. Decorating a baby nursery is certainly a lot of fun, but there are some essential things that new parents need to keep in mind concerning the decorating process.

1. Keep Safety in Mind at All Times
The baby’s safety needs to be a top priority when you are planning your nursery’s décor. Thus, you might have to sacrifice some design elements if they could be potentially unsafe for your baby. Make sure that there are: no small pieces that might pose a choking hazard, no items that contain toxic chemicals, no strangling hazards, and no uncovered electrical outlets.

2. Set a Budget and Stick to It
It’s not at all hard to end up way over budget when it comes to decorating your baby’s nursery. It’s very easy to get lured in by all the cute baby items that are available. Your best bet is to make a reasonable budget for the room before you do anything else and then make sure you stick to it. If your budget is limited, you want to spend the bulk of the money you have on a quality crib and furniture rather than other décor items.

3. You Don’t Have to Choose a Theme
One thing that many new parents insist on is that they have to choose a theme for their baby’s nursery. Yet without a theme, a nursery’s décor can look just as nice. With some nice paint colors and great furniture, you can create a wonderful nursery that’s refreshingly simple. Once your baby becomes a toddler or young child, then it will be easier to change the room according to what he or she wants. A nursery theme is only one nursery decorating option. Don’t let others convince you that a theme is absolutely necessary.

4. Use Your Creativity and Talents
Some of the best baby nurseries have been create by parents who have channeled their creativity and talents into a completely unique nursery design. For instance, if you are able to paint or draw, then you might consider designing your own mural for the nursery wall. Unique items for the nursery’s décor might also be stitched by those of you who are sewers or knitters. New parents will often find that they like the nursery a lot better when they have included their own creative touch.

5. Make Sure the Nursery Is Functional and Practical
Some new parents end up learning the hard way when it comes to the functionality of their baby nursery. Above all else, the nursery needs to be practical rather than just aesthetically pleasing. Finding furniture and baby items that you will actually use is one of the most important keys to creating a functional and practical room. So if that rocking chair is not comfortable, even though it might look really cute in the corner, chances are that you’re probably not going to use it and you will have wasted your money.

Most new parents genuinely look forward to decorating the baby’s nursery. With a little help from these suggestions, you’ll be able to create the best possible baby nursery for your little one.

About the Writer…
Leon Tuberman has been part of the furniture and interior design  business for 40 years. He owns and operates a popular furniture store in California. They offer a huge assortment of solid wood furniture for your living room, home office and dining room that’s built in the Heartland of America. Are you searching for wood file cabinets for your home office or wood end tables for your living room then they probably have everything you need.

If you’re having trouble finding the right colors for a room or you’ve just always loved the contrast of a black-and-white style, then consider a black-and-white color scheme. A black-and-white style will fit a number of décors, including contemporary and French country. Traditionally, people tend to consider the colors black and white limiting when it comes to décor. But there are many different ideas that can be implemented when decorating a room with a black-and-white theme.

Keep the Walls Light
If you’ve decided on a black-and-white style, the last thing you want to do is paint all the wall black. It’s better to keep the wall light with a white or soft ivory color. If you’re planning on hanging black shelves or pieces of art on the walls, a light color will provide the perfect backdrop. If you want your walls to have a little more contrast, then perhaps trying painting your crown molding and trim black instead.

Add Patterns to the Black-and-White Room
You want to be sure your black-and-white décor doesn’t end up looking boring. A good way to avoid this is to add patterns to the room. Patterns might range anywhere from stripes and checks to paisleys and toiles. For a more daring look, incorporate an animal print such as a zebra into the décor.

· Try a couch or chair with a black-and-white pattern in your living or family room.

· In the bedroom, a comforter with a black-and-white pattern will add some interest to the room.

· In a kitchen or dining room with a black-and-white theme, consider patterned window treatments or fabric on the chairs.

· Other accessories such as black-and-white-patterned blankets, towels, pillows, and wallpaper borders will also make an interesting addition to the room.

· You can also add interest to a room with black-and-white-patterned towels, pillows, blankets, and wallpaper borders.

Change It Up with the Seasons
For those who love to decorate their home according to the different seasons, a black-and-white theme can provide the perfect backdrop. Seasonal accessories can be added: either small pieces like knickknacks, candles, and vases, or larger items such as artwork, an area rug, or a blanket thrown over the back of a couch.

· At Christmastime, red decorations always go great with a black-and-white scheme.

· For the fall season, simply add orange elements to the room for an instant autumnal feel.

· In the spring and summer months, you can lighten things up a bit by adding in accents such as turquoise or yellow.

It doesn’t have to be difficult or expensive to decorate a room in a black-and-white style. Once you decide on the specific style you are going for, you simply need to shop around for pieces that fit into the black-and-white color scheme. Also, don’t feel like you need to stick only to the black-and-white theme. With a hint of color strategically placed here and there, you can quickly add some personality to the room. When you add some of your own style and flair, you will make your black-and-white room feel like your own.

About the Author…
Leon Tuberman has four decades of experience in the home furnishings and interior design industry. He is the owner and operator of popular furniture store in California. They carry a large selection of Amish made solid oak furniture for your home office, dining room and bedroom. Whether you’re looking for a oak desk for your home office or a oak dresser for your master bedroom then they carry everything you need.

Are you looking for something different in your home? Do you find your current look to be rather boring? Fortunately, there are plenty of simple ways to accessorize any room in your home. To give any room an entirely new look, you don’t need a lot of money or an interior decorator. You can easily accessorize any room in your home using any of the following simple suggestions.

Add Some Extra Flair with Throw Pillows
Start by adding some complementary throw pillows to a sofa or chair. Or try adding a throw blanket to the back of the sofa. Be sure, however, that these items are not the same exact color as the sofa or chair. After all, they should work to add some interest and design element to the room. A tan sofa should be complemented with decorative pillows where tan is not the main color in the design or pattern. To pull the room together, it’s also a great idea to add other complementary colors from the room to the sofa.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures
By updating your lighting fixtures, you can give your room a whole new glow. Whether you have older fixtures or small ones, installing new lighting can make a big difference. A variety of fixtures are available that are both inexpensive and easy to install. Be sure to get a fixture that gives off plenty of light to make your room brighter. At the same time, find a design style that fits the room.

Go Green with Your Living Room Accessories
With a simple houseplant or vase of flowers, you can easily add more color to any room. No matter your style, you should be able to find some really beautiful fake flower arrangements at your local craft store. Otherwise, if you’re creative enough, you can make one yourself. Be sure to place the flower arrangement in a prominent spot in the room so it garners lots of attention. The same thing applies to any houseplants you add, whether real or fake. Try placing two houseplants on either side of a fireplace, which will help create a focal point for the room.

Fill Up a Blank Wall with Framed Pictures
Are your walls boring? Try hanging a few picture frames in various shapes and sizes to spice things up. You should be able to choose from a wide array of unique and stylish frames that will not only help you display your pictures but will also add some interest to the room. Try black-and-white pictures or those with only a touch of color for a dramatic look. Matted pictures can be eye-catching as well.

Reorganize Knickknacks with Shelving
If your various knickknacks in a room are getting lost in the mix, consider grouping them together on a mantle or shelving on wood bookcases. This way, you can display them together in a stylish arrangement and thus better accessorize the room.

Adding simple accessories allows you to easily redecorate or switch around the style design of a room. For something really different, consider moving the furniture around or adding new pieces, such as a new oak dining room tables. It should be neither hard nor expensive to accessorize a room. By simply getting creative, you can really let your style show.

Artwork is one of the most popular ways to decorate a home. But most people believe that in order for artwork to look good, it has to be expensive. This is absolutely not the case. There are many ways to decorate your home with art that’s inexpensive and still results in a wonderfully decorated room. If you want to include art in your home décor but don’t have a lot of money to spend, then here are some great ways to add interest and character to your home on a budget.

Find Free Artwork around the House
With a simple look around your house, you are bound to find free artwork that can easily be framed for a beautiful addition to any room. You might find items such as hanging illustrated calendars, postcards, greeting cards, and perhaps even a decorative flag. You can make these pieces look even more professional by matting them with matting board in the frame.

Look to Nature for Art Pieces
A shadow box or even a matted frame can be used to frame quite a few different things from nature. For instance, you can frame a collage you’ve created from pressed flowers and leaves. Sea shells, seeds, pinecones, branches, flowers, and other items from nature can all be used as pieces of artwork. With a little creativity, you can come up with a collage of these items that will fit perfectly with your décor.

Take Your Own Photographs for Your Artwork
The artistic possibilities are endless if you have your own camera or can borrow one from a friend. Anything can become the subject for a photograph, from flowers and trees to houses and the sky. To add your own creative touch, use a photo editing website and develop the pictures in black and white or sepia. Have the photographs developed in the proper size, regardless of whether you enlarge them or print them in normal size.

Get creative and display your photographs together on a wall in matching frames of different sizes. Or you can also collect the photographs into a book and place it as a center piece on wood end tables or oak coffee tables. You might also enlist the help of a friend to take photos, especially if you’re not that creative. Or you can go the traditional route and take pictures of your family to hang on the walls.

By getting creative, you should be able to find any type of artwork for your home without having to spend a lot of money. It’s easy to turn everyday objects into pieces of art. Look through any illustrated books you have and see if there’s a picture you can frame and hang to fit the style of your room. Or collect things like fabric swatches, buttons, magazine clippings, and other small items from which you can make a collage for a frame or shadowbox. There are so many possibilities for inexpensive artwork. You just need to take the time to look around your home and then use what you have.

Believe it or not, no matter how small your budget, it’s possible to bring style to any room in your home. There are so many inexpensive ways to add style to your home, giving it a whole new look. Following are some great ways to decorate any room in your home while sticking to your budget.

1. Paint is the best way to spruce up a room on a tight budget.

With just a couple gallons of paint that will cost you less than 50 dollars, you can give any room an entirely new look. You might use bright or bold colors to add drama to the room, or go with more neutral colors for a more natural appearance. You’ll be surprised how creative you can get with paint. You might choose to paint only one wall an accent color, which will make that wall the focal point of the room. There are many ways to add some real interest to your walls, by painting strips or trying a textured painting technique.

2.  Your windows are another great place to make a big impact on a room without spending a lot of money.

There are a variety of different window coverings to choose from for any type of room. Even if your windows are already covered with blinds, adding a valance to the top will add much more drama to the area.

There are many different creative options to try when dressing a window. Try taking sheer material and draping over a decorative curtain rod as a simple and inexpensive decorating idea. Another easy idea is long curtain panels tied back with thick ribbon or velvet.

3. You can largely impact the look of a room by simply adding some accessories that will tie the room together.

So often it’s the little things that count when it comes to décor. When used the correct way, accessories such as candles, photos, flowers, and baskets on a oak dresser can add a lot to a room. By simply adding a row of candles to a coffee table or wood night stand, you can give a room a more intimate feeling. With a vase of flowers, any kitchen can look more inviting. Even the smallest touches, such as new towels in a bathroom, can make a big difference.

By shopping flea markets and consignment stores for these items, you’ll be able to stick to your budget. Shopping this way may be a bit more time consuming, but it will save you a ton of money, especially if you have your entire house to decorate.

4.  For a new look, try rearranging the furniture or pull items from one room and use them in another.
If your budget is really tight, it makes sense to work with what you have. Always be on the lookout for pieces you can refurbish and add your own style to. For instance, the old vase that use to hold flowers in the family room could be spray painted with a metallic finish to add the perfect touch to your dining room table. Carefully consider the items you have and envision how you might change them to fit the style you’re looking for.

Decorating doesn’t have to cost you thousands of dollars. You’ll be surprised at how far 100 dollars or 200 dollars will get you in bringing style to your home on a tight budget.