| In today's world of home channel popularity | | | | $89 and still look modern and fresh. Martha |
| and all things fashionable, making your home | | | | Stewart's bed-in-bags are surprisingly classy |
| magazine perfect and envied by all isn't such | | | | and comfortable. Add a small lamp behind a |
| a hard or expensive thing to do. Even the | | | | cornered bed or behind a larger item on the |
| smallest changes and additions can make a | | | | dresser, (Television) the lighting in the |
| huge difference for less than a weekend | | | | room will be soft and inviting. |
| getaway. After all, your home is lived in | | | | |
| before and after the getaway. | | | | Bathrooms should make you feel welcome and |
| | | | leave you with a calming feeling. Try |
| Start with space. You'll need to open up the | | | | sprucing up your small space with new color |
| cluttered space in your home to make it | | | | and texture. Replace hardware in the |
| instantly appear larger and cleaner. Take a | | | | bathroom, (towel racks, faucets, hooks and |
| look at the corners of your rooms and you | | | | doorknobs) with a brushed nickel or stainless |
| should be able to find something to store | | | | steel instead of the out of date gold plated |
| away or move into a more appropriate room. | | | | or brass. Purchase a new bathroom set that is |
| Books add brains to a home but too many can | | | | plush and feels good to the hand. Your feet |
| cause it to feel like a library or book store | | | | will thank you and so will your eyes. A new |
| not a homey retreat. | | | | modern shower curtain will look great against |
| | | | your new chrome fixtures and will make them |
| Decide which decorative items you really have | | | | pop. Clear away all personal items including |
| outgrown and get rid of them! Too many eye | | | | combs, brushes, lotions and cups on the sink, |
| distracting knickknacks cause the brain to | | | | and keep it minimal. Hang fresh new hand |
| feel jumbled and that certainly doesn't help | | | | towels. You'll feel like you're in a resort |
| with stress or relaxation. | | | | when you enter your new bathroom. |
| | | | |
| Tops of entertainment centers and stands | | | | Your kitchen should be a fun place to be. It |
| shouldn't be bare but they also should show! | | | | may be the busiest room in the house and most |
| Often times homeowners pack on the pictures | | | | used, but it should look like it. It's easy |
| and collectibles too heavy leading to lots of | | | | to pile up papers and photos on the fridge, |
| beautiful items with no way to focus in on | | | | and snacks and appliances on the counters. |
| any. Less is more. Pick the items you want | | | | Make a new home for these items tucked away |
| to keep or the ones that make the best | | | | out of site. The less you have in the |
| statement or compliment the room's decor. | | | | kitchen, the less you'll have distracting you |
| Make a select few focal points and let them | | | | physically and mentally. Lighting is |
| stand alone. | | | | important in every room of the home and most |
| | | | neglect the kitchen. You can purchase a $10 |
| It truly is amazing what a fresh coat of | | | | miniature lamp at a local drugstore and add |
| paint can accomplish. Nothing beats this | | | | it to the end of a counter or corner baker's |
| upgrade for the price. It really all comes | | | | rack to illuminate the room and add a cozy |
| down to the color selection. If your walls | | | | soft glow at night. It will make you feel at |
| are a contemporary white, spruce it up! Make | | | | home in your home. |
| one wall a focal wall and paint it a bold | | | | |
| color. This will energize the room and | | | | If you have an outdoor space such as a porch |
| everything placed on that wall will pop. If | | | | or deck, treat it as an indoor space. Add |
| your walls are a tad too neutral and drab, | | | | plants, lighting, perhaps a small water |
| try a modern earthy tone such as sage green, | | | | fountain for a tranquil setting. Don't |
| mocha, or a pale deep yellow. Depending on | | | | neglect the texture and appeal of these |
| your furniture color, flooring, and drapery, | | | | spaces. Enjoy plush rugs, seating and color |
| select a color that will compliment and yet | | | | as you do indoors. |
| not blend in too much. Note* using a | | | | |
| semi-gloss finish may be great for washing or | | | | Even making small changes to each room such |
| children, but flats are really the best | | | | as removing boxes of extra clutter or |
| finished look for a room. | | | | belongings can make a huge impact on your |
| | | | mental outlook and internal mood. You'd me |
| Bathrooms and bedrooms are always a sanctuary | | | | amazed at how desterilizing a sterile space |
| or at least they should be. You'd be amazed | | | | can make you want to stay in that space. |
| what a few simple projects can do to your | | | | Adding even a splash of color or a new item |
| rooms. For the bedroom, try painting the trim | | | | to a room can change the whole effect. I know |
| on the windows and doorways a deep chocolate, | | | | there's something in your home that shouldn't |
| switching out the metal or plastic | | | | be there. Take one room at a time and turn |
| mini-blinds for a dark wood bamboo blind. A | | | | your abode into a lifetime getaway. |
| new bed-in-a bag can cost you as little as | | | | |