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How to Keep your Real Christmas Tree Beautiful and Safe

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Using a real fir as a holiday tree is a beautiful, traditional choice.   Living trees are not as common as they once were, as many holiday decorators choose to use artificial trees.   A living Christmas tree can be a wonderful centerpiece in your traditional holiday décor, providing you follow a few simple steps to preserve the beauty of the tree as well as to ensure safety.

When shopping for your tree, inspect any prospective trees closely before you purchase.  Look for brown patches in the needles, an excess of needles on the ground surrounding the tree, and for weak or bare branches.   The trunk should be a uniform color and texture, with no damaged or discolored areas.   The needles should be bright or vibrant (depending on the type of fir tree you’re buying) and firmly attached.   The root ball should be moist and free of any mold or mildew.  After purchasing, transport the tree home very carefully.  If you’re tying it to the roof of your vehicle, be careful placing the rope or twine to avoid damaging small, tender branches and needles.

At home, prepare your tree stand by placing in the area of your home where you plan to decorate the tree.   Fill a small pie pan or other container with water and add a few drops of bleach.  The bleach will help the needles stay bright, as well as preventing mold and mildew from growing on the trunk of your tree.  A moldy tree isn’t on anyone’s Christmas list!  Live trees need water for a couple of reasons.  Firstly, the water helps prevent the tree from drying out.  A dry Christmas tree is very, very flammable – keeping the tree moist will help make the tree more fire-resistant.   Secondly, a moist tree will hold onto its needles longer, which means less vacuuming and fewer bald spots on the tree.

When you bring the tree in the house, two or more people should hold and position the tree while a third person attaches it to the stand.   Most Christmas tree stands use three or more thumbscrews to hold the trunk in place; work in a circle, tightening each screw a little at a time, which will make sure the tree is both centered and secure in the stand.   Test for sturdiness, especially if there are pets or small children in the house who may pull the tree over.

The primary disadvantage in using a live Christmas tree, aside from environmental reasons, is the flammability.  Even a moist tree can catch fire – it’s made of wood, after all.  Make sure your tree is not close to anything that might catch it on fire, including the fireplace, lamps, heating vents or candles.  Test and examine all electrical light strings for frays, and plug in lights before stringing to find any burnt out or damaged bulbs.   If you’re connecting more than one string of lights together end to end, secure the connection with a strip of electrical tape.  This will prevent the plugs from pulling apart and creating a spark.

Many years ago, when Christmas trees were decorated with real candles, homeowners would keep a bucket of sand near the tree to put out any fires.  Nowadays, consider keeping a freshly charged fire extinguisher nearby and make sure the entire family knows how to use it in an emergency.

Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, has skills in all areas of large candle sconces and architectural wall art.

Photos credits – Christmas tree made of diamonds, Lazy shelf Christmas tree and Upside down Christmas tree.

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Merry Holiday Decorating on a Budget

Sunday, December 25th, 2011

It can be difficult to garner holiday spirit in tough economic times.  We’re all feeling the pinch, trying to save as much as we can to help us through the uncertain times ahead.   It’s easy to spend a lot of money on the holidays, from buying gifts to baking ingredients to holiday decorations, but it’s not necessary.  There are many things you can do and try to help cut down on your holiday spending costs without sacrificing any holiday cheer.   Even if your budget is too small for these tricks, however, the most important parts of the season are completely free – spending time with our loved ones and taking time to be grateful for the gifts we do have in our lives.

Shop Sales In January

The best trick by far is to buy your holiday decorations in January.   Prices are slashed, sometimes by dramatic amounts, as stores try to move the last of the seasonal inventory.   Bargains are everywhere, from high-end boutiques to inexpensive discount retailers.    Nowadays, even grocery stores stock impressive amounts of holiday decorations; they can be a great source for staples like tinsel, indoor light strings and garlands.   With a valued customer card and January price slashing, you can take home a cartful of decorations for a few dollars.

Flea Markets

If your tastes are unique, you might enjoy hunting down one of a kind or otherwise unusual decoration at flea markets or swap meets.   Flea markets carry a little bit of everything; I’ve seen several with entire booths devoted to holiday decorations sold year round.  Old ornaments, nativity sets, candle holders and holiday dishes can all be found at flea markets – often times you can find very old or collectible decorations at flea markets, at a price that’s much less than the actual value as well.

Discount Stores

Discount stores, like Target, Kmart and Wal*Mart, are also great places to find inexpensive holiday decorations, and not only at the after Christmas sales.  During the prime holiday season, these retailers often stock a wide variety of holiday decorations in a range of low prices.  Currently, many high-end designers are experimenting with a design-for-all philosophy.  This means you can find beautiful pieces created by the same designers who fill the high-end boutiques and trade magazines – but at a price many more of us can actually afford.

Homemade Decorations

If you are crafty, the possibilities for creating your own one-of-a-kind decorations are endless.  Even the less crafty among us can tackle simple projects.  An abundance of homemade Christmas and holiday craft sites exist online, and many craft stores offer demonstrations or classes in many crafting techniques.  These classes will usually be holiday focused in October, November and December.  Most craft stores offer a newsletter by email or post that lists all the available learning activities.

If you aren’t the slightest bit crafty, but still enjoy handcrafted decorations, you can find wonderful treasures at craft sales.   Many larger towns and cities will have a large craft show in the early fall focusing on holiday decorations and items.  Online, try www.etsy .com for unique items from artists and crafters around the world.

Decor Swap

Another option is to gather a few of your friends for a holiday decoration swap.  Everyone brings decorations from their own supply, minus personal or heirloom pieces, and you can trade amongst yourselves.  This is a great and inexpensive way to keep your holiday decorations fresh and new every year.

Conclusion

Decorating for the holidays does not have to break the bank.  With a little planning and common sense, you can make your home a holiday showcase without spending much money at all.

Jessica Ackerman, author and staff designer at WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, specializes in candle sconces and holders and contemporary metal wall sculptures.

Photos credits to Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree and Vector tree.

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Creative Decorating at the Top of the Stairs

Saturday, December 24th, 2011

Decorating around a staircase can be a big challenge for any decorator, amateur or professional. Choosing how to decorate your staircase can be simple if you follow a few simple steps, use your imagination and think practically.

The first step is to measure your space.  If you want to hang art on a long wall, measure the length and the height.  Find the center point in both directions, and mark a line from one end of the wall to the other with chalk at eye level.  Even if you are just painting or putting up wallpaper, you will need exact measurements when you purchase materials.

Prepare your space next.  If you are painting, tape off any trim, moldings, windows and ceiling lines with painters tape and protect your floor with a drop cloth.  Have a rag handy for wiping away spills as they happen.  Lightly sand the entire surface you are going to paint to make sure it is smooth, and then wipe down with a damp cloth to remove any dust.  If you have chosen a dark color for your walls, start with one or two coats of a tinted primer to make sure your current wall color doesn’t bleed through and to get better coverage with your color coat.  After applying primer, apply two or three coats of color.  Cover large areas with a roller and cut in around painters tape with a brush.  Carefully remove painter’s tape before the paint dries to ensure a clean line.  When paint is completely dry, paint trim after taping off walls.  If you are hanging wallpaper, consider where the pattern will fall before gluing.

Artistic Endeavors

If you are hanging art, consider your decorating style: For example, fleur de lis artwork lends a traditional feel, while jazz metal wall art may feel more contemporary.  In the following examples, we’ll look at eclectic, traditional and shabby chic spaces – if your style preferences are somewhere else, consider how you can bring elements into your stairway wall.

Traditional

This traditional staircase has many classic architectural details, as well as a calming, timeless color scheme.  The homeowner has chosen to hang prints in matching frames at equal distances on the wall.  Symmetry and balance are important details to consider when decorating in a traditional style. Faux finishing techniques give the impression of expensive panels on the lower walls, but are in fact an inexpensive alternative.

Eclectic/Bohemian

This wall is a hodgepodge of art in a variety of frames, hung in a free-form pattern.  The way the pictures are hung mirrors the curve of the staircase, and highlights the homeowner’s unique, playful style.  Other details represent a variety of styles, typical of eclectic decor. When attempting to hang photos like this, it helps to trace the frames on pieces of paper, taping them to the wall in different patterns and arrangements until you are happy with the flow and general shape.  It is easier to work with templates than to have to fill in nail holes later.

Cottage/Shabby Chic

If you love bright and joyful cottage style and lack proper storage, consider this cute solution for your stairway.  Striped wallpaper, brightly painted shelves and color coordinating storage containers make this functional nook a pleasure to behold.  The sweet cream paint on the stairs and the country basket tucked underneath add to the charm and whimsy of this area.  To recreate at home, measure carefully to ensure shelves are equally spaced vertically – this homeowner used every other stair tread as a guide – and that the horizontal length of the shelves does not create a hazard when going up and down stairs.

Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, is an interior designer who illustrates how simple it can be to use wall candle holders and contemporary metal wall decor.

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Budget Ways to Decorate a Living Room with Blue Carpeting

Thursday, December 22nd, 2011

Blue carpeting was a staple in many homes built between the 1950’s and the 1980’s.  Blue is a popular decorating color, but the ease of using blue on the walls, in fabrics or in accent pieces does not necessarily translate to blue carpeting.   When faced with a sea of ocean colored shag or bold navy Berber, what is a homeowner to do? If you cannot replace the carpet, your best and cheapest option is to find a way to live with it.  Fortunately, many color schemes work wonderfully with blue, so no matter what your personal style is, you should be able to find a balance between your taste and the cerulean floor covering giving you fits.

Find The Humor

This room, a very stylized piece created for a decorating showcase, shows how much fun a little blue carpeting can be.  The narrow strip of bright sea blue running down the center of the room divides the space into symmetrical halves, with each side mirroring the other.  From the cute angled sofa to the clever half pots on the walls under the vinyl sea anemones, this space is hip, fun and bordering on futuristic.  Blue is right at home in this style.

The next picture is a livable room; this time decorated in a fun, eclectic style. Blue here is balanced with many white, black and white accent pieces and again, a sense of humor.  This room is fun without being over the top like the previous room, making it a space that would be right at home in a suburban house or an urban townhouse.

You could easily copy the feel of this rug by stenciling designs in black on your own carpeting.  Painting carpets is challenging, but not impossible, and it has made much easier when you use fabric paint, which is made to stretch and bend without cracking or peeling.

The next room is even more traditional, but it still has several bold contemporary elements.  Mixing pale blue with bright red against a backdrop of neutrals is a very hot trend, the effect is high drama and high contrast, but it feels updated and fresher than standard black and white.  Notice how the homeowner’s use of shades of blue remains in the same family.  While the colors may be slightly different, they share many of the same color qualities.  This room has many formal qualities, but the edges are taken off by the abundance of soft fabrics and gentle textures.

The final room is familiar, and shows one of the most famous rooms to have blue carpeting.  The Oval Office, where the President of the United States conducts business, is traditionally re-decorated for each President.  Presidents choose art and furnishings that reflect their personal style.   This is a replica of Lyndon Johnson’s Oval Office, which was created at his Presidential library.  While the styles may change with each new President, the Oval Office has consistently had blue carpeting.

Just as fleur de lis wall art may be one person’s cup of tea and music wall hangings may be another’s, your particular shade of blue carpet cab be made more palatable to your taste by tweaking the room with a good dose of your personal style.

Professional designer Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, and specializes in decorating with contemporary wood wall art and architectural wall decor.

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Unique Ways to Decorate a Small Dining Room

Sunday, October 23rd, 2011

Recent trends in new construction include dining rooms in the floor plans of most homes, but many are quite small.   My dining room is a scant 10 feet by 11 feet, leaving little room for a normal sized dining table, let alone much else.  Fortunately, a dining room is an ideal space to put ideas about small space design into action.  With a little imagination and some general guidelines, you can turn your tiny dining room into a comfortable space for family meals.

1.                  Using color.  Many decorators will advise using light colors in small spaces, which is typically very good advice.  Light colors can make a room feel larger and lighter, but using darker colors in moderation can make the dining room feel warm and cozy.  Colors inspired by foods such as pumpkin, butternut squash, green peas, ripe strawberries or roasted pecans can add a layer of richness to any dining room.

2.                 Using scale.  Do not buy furniture that is too large OR too small for your space.  Pieces which are out of scale with the room itself can make the room feel unbalanced, in addition to impacting the practicality and maneuverability of the layout.   Banquettes, which consist of one or more built in bench seats (similar in concept to restaurant booths) can be a practical solution for a narrow dining room which doesn’t allow room for a table, chairs and room to move the chairs to and from the table.

3.                 Using texture.  If you’ve decided on a monochromatic or neutral color palette, you can add a lot of interest to your space with texture.   A beige dining room can be boring and flat or tactile and interesting by simply adding different textures.   Tweed, linen, jute and canvas are all in the same color family, but each has a unique visual appeal.  When used together in a room with a simple color scheme, these fabrics become interesting and dynamic.

4.                 Using multi-purpose furnishings.  A small dining room can be a storage nightmare without a little advance planning.  When designing your dining room, look to the various pieces of furniture to multitask for you.  A banquette seat can become a storage area for linens with the addition of a couple of piano hinges, a wall hung bookcase can easily become an impromptu china display case.   A dining table with a storage drawer can hold napkin rings, candle holders, tapers, matches and placemats.

5.                 Using light well.  Good lighting can make the most of any room.  Take cues from stage lighting designers when lighting a small space by using a combination of general, accent and task lighting.   A ceiling fixture over the table with a dimmer switch, wall sconces by your most beautiful artwork or displays and lighting within china cabinets will provide all the light you need for everything from a family holiday dinner to a romantic meal for two.

The following rooms are wonderful examples of making the most of limited space.  Let’s look at how each room makes the most of a small area.

This dining room uses a monochromatic color scheme, but the gorgeous lighting and rich textures in the room make it come alive.   The wood floor and thin legs on the chairs and table help the eye move across the room, giving an allusion of more space.  The bold artwork is perfectly complemented by the rich paprika color of the walls.

This dining room uses a contrasting color scheme, setting the bright white and crisp apple green against the dark, espresso colored wood of the furnishings.  The result is an elegant and sophisticated space that feels much larger than it is.  Notice how the long table, the credenza, the area rug and the green wall all visually lengthen the room, and how the oversized mirror at the back of the room makes the room look larger.  Despite its small size, this dining room would never feel crowded or cramped.

This dining room is very fresh, with bright citrus colors playing nicely against the warm, medium tones of the table and the wood floor.  The white accents add an extra layer of sass to the room, and keep it from feeling closed in.  These homeowners have maximized the storage area in the dining room with the built-in unit on the wall behind the table.   The area rug continues the color scheme and neatly defines the dining area.

This dining room makes use of every inch of the small space it occupies.  From the pediment on the door and built-in china cabinet to the bookcases, this cozy-cluttered dining room looks like it serves as much more than a place to eat to the homeonwers.   While this style is much more eclectic than the previous images, this room still finds its style and sticks with it, even as it plays with some of the rules for small space design.

Artist/Designer, Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com and offers aspiring home designers the opportunity to decorate with contemporary metal wall sculpture or trees wall artwork.

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Ideas for Decorating a Great Room with a Pine Ceiling

Friday, October 21st, 2011

Many older and historical homes have beautiful wood or wood enhanced ceilings. Pine ceilings are especially common, especially in homes in the Western United States and in historic cabins throughout the country.   Oftentimes, with a little tender loving care, an old pine ceiling can be a beautiful focal point in a room without doing much to enhance it.   Creating a style for the rest of the room which works with the pine ceiling can be a bit of a challenge, however.   This article will explore five ways to make the most of your wooden ceiling.

Make it Rustic

Pine beams are most often seen crossing the ceilings of rustic homes. Cabin style is right at home under an open beam ceiling, recalling simpler times when most Americans lived in cabins in the woods.  In this photo, you can see how the homeowner has integrated several antiques around the giant stone fireplace, as well as a splash of Native American spirit with the woven blanket. Notice how the light color on the walls and floor, as well as an abundance of natural light helps keep the space from feeling too dark or heavy.

Make it Quaint

This pine ceiling is flat, but it makes gives the room a rustic feel with a hint of the Italian countryside. The faux finished wall and soft sage cabinets create a very warm, cozy palette with a few splashes of cool sky blue and sleek white for contrast.  In this room, the wall colors (including the sage cabinets, the ecru backsplash and the brown tones in the faux finish) help bring the room together without creating a glaring contrast between the dark ceiling and the very pale floor.  While this room still feels a bit top-heavy, the warm, intense colors on the walls help the space feel cozy rather than suffocating.

Make it Historical

This is another example of a flat ceiling, but in this example it’s used very formally in a Colonial styled home.  The pristine white moldings around the doors, windows, ceiling and the medallion framing the ceiling fan help delineate the space.  The rich federal blue and the soft, warm brown of the pecan colored wood create a very elegant, very formal effect.  The gold accents above the windows and doors are matched in the perfectly matching (and perfectly symmetrical) paintings on either side of the double door.   The wooden ceiling in this room adds to the respect it commands.

Make it Modern

In this space, the open pine beams make a fantastic geometric background for the modern, pop-art inspired room.  The bright, primary colors matched with black and white create a sleek, artistic space balanced with the juxtaposition of the natural, warm wooden columns dividing the space both vertically and horizontally.   Geometric and orthogonal patterns often dominate modern spaces and artworks – this homeowner found the modern pattern in the old wood to create a lively, energetic and visually appealing space.

Make it Elegant

In this Craftsman style home, you can see other ways wood can be used to add to the design of a room.  The beautiful, darkly stained wood moldings in this room demand respect.  Balanced with an art deco color palette evoking both Frank Lloyd Wright and Gustav Klimt, the intricate, elegant patterns created by the ceiling moldings make the room they highlight feel pulled together and polished.

Pine ceilings can appear in many kinds of homes all over the world.  Wood, a naturally beautiful material, can look good in any environment and help define both your style and your aesthetic.  Good luck bringing your own wood ceiling to life, the beauty it can add to your space is priceless.

Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com generously shares everything she knows about trees wall sculptures and Southwestern metal wall art.

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Ways to Decorate the Living Room According to Seasons

Monday, September 26th, 2011

Decorating your home to match different holidays and seasons can be a lot of fun for decorators both amateur and professional. Customizing your space as the seasons change can keep things fresh and interesting. If you keep the big ticket fixtures – like furnishings, flooring and wall color – in your living room neutral, you can play with seasonal color palettes to add spice and flair with your accessories. When planning your seasonal decor, consider how your family and guests will experience the living space. What will they see, hear, touch and smell? What do you want people to see first? What part of the room do you want to make the biggest impression? Answering these basic design questions before undertaking a seasonal decorating plan will save you a lot of guessing time, as well as increase your chances of creating a beautiful and satisfying environment.

Autumn September -November
Holidays/unique elements to consider: Halloween, Veteran’s Day, Labor Day, harvest, leaves change color, Thanksgiving, back to school, elections.
Sights: Use accents in warm fall colors from nature. Pumpkin orange, russet red, butternut squash gold, pecan brown as well as colors from your spice rack (paprika, cumin, cayenne, and clove) look great against neutrals and add warmth and depth to your space. Consider adding wool throws, toss pillows, art and decorative pieces in these shades to instantly add autumn flair.
Smells: Scented candles and other home fragrances can make your home feel very inviting. While baking and actual apple pie with fresh ground cinnamon or a hot loaf of pumpkin or zucchini bread are the most authentic ways to add scent, using a candle scented with spiced apples, sugar cookies or pumpkin pie can add a nice touch.
Textures: In autumn we all pull out our cool weather sweaters and prepare to hunker in for the winter. Make cold weather seem inviting by using cozy woven fabrics and other rich textures throughout your living space. Wool, velour, corduroy, denim and canvass are all wonderful autumn fabrics.
Feelings to evoke: Coziness, comfort, warmth.

Winter December – February
Holidays/unique elements to consider: Christmas, Chanukah, Kwanzaa, New Year’s Day, Valentine’s Day, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, President’s day.
Sights: Colors associated with winter are very cool and crisp. Blue and gray dominate, with white, silver and midnight blue accenting. Religious holidays have associated colors as well, including red and green for Christmas, blue and white for Chanukah and gold, red and green for Kwanzaa.  Holiday decorations are likely displayed prominently in December, but accenting your normal decor with winter colors after the holidays can create a look that is both crisp and polished.
Smells: The holidays usually mean homes are filled with the smells of fresh baked goods and delicious holiday meals. Additional scents to consider include pine, peppermint, cranberry, merlot and mocha.
Textures: Soothing, soft and warm fabrics and textures invite family and guests to curl up with a cup of cocoa. Consider a fluffy lap sized duvet, beautiful handmade quilts or a cashmere throw on the back of the sofa, paired with a few winter hued toss pillows. Accent with a dash of smooth, cool silk or taffeta in an icy blue.
Feelings to evoke: Holiday cheer, companionship, peace and goodwill.

Spring March – May
Holidays/unique elements to consider: Mother’s day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Memorial Day, blooming flowers, spring cleaning
Sights: Spring is the perfect time to fill your home with fresh flowers. Tulips, daffodils, hyacinths and lilies in a rainbow of spring colors can instantly make the stuffiest space feel fresh and new.  Stash away the heavy winter blankets and accessories and bring out decorative pieces in lightweight fabrics and crisp colors. Take your color cues from springtime flower gardens and blooming trees by bringing in soft pastels, bright greens and yellows and creamy vanilla shades of white.
Smells: Nothing smells better than a fresh spring breeze, throw open the windows and let Mother Nature help clear out the last of the winter stuffiness in your home. Fresh flowers will tint the air with delicate perfume. Additionally, it never quite feels like spring until the cleaning is done and the whole house smells lemon fresh and polished for spring.
Textures: Go for soft, lightweight textures.  Silk, cotton and linen are classic and cool. Spring is a great time to play with pattern as well as texture, consider adding some accents in a spring inspired floral or stripe.
Feelings to evoke: Renewal, contentedness, energy.

Summer June – August
Holidays/unique elements to consider: Independence Day, Father’s Day, Flag Day, barbeques, the beach, family vacations.
Sights: Accessories in bright summer colors pop against a neutral background. Turquoise blue, sea green, coral, sandy browns and sunny yellows all add a summer feel. Color cues can also be taken from summer produce stands, bright leafy greens, bold berry colors and rich tomato reds are perfect colors to accent hot summer days.
Smells: Nothing smells more like summer than freshly mown grass, earthy food fresh from the garden and warm ocean breezes. Fill your home with smells of freshly squeezed lemons, meat from the grill and summer flowers.
Textures: Like spring, summer is a time for lightweight, natural fiber fabrics like cotton, raw silk and linen. Take cues from the fabrics you enjoy wearing in the summer as you choose your accent pieces. Crisp, light colored fabrics make even the hottest day feel as cool as a cucumber.
Feelings to evoke: Relaxation, cool comfort, vacation.

Jessica Ackerman from WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, has skills in all areas of wooden wall hangings and tree of life wall sculpture.

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Unique Ideas for Decorating Foyer Walls

Sunday, September 25th, 2011

Decorating a foyer can be a daunting task.  In most modern open concept design homes, the foyer is little more than the area around the front door.   Many homes feature two story foyers, which can provide an even bigger design challenge, both literally and figuratively.  There are several things you can do to spice up the entry way to your home without spending a lot of money.

Photo collage – Hang a set of related photographs in frames on your wall in a pattern, giving the impression of a much larger piece of art.   Keep at least one element consistent, such as using black and white photographs or using the same color frame and matting to give your collection an intentional look.   This project can be done very inexpensively if you have a color printer available – find a series of images on the web, print them on cardstock and place them in frames picked up at the local flea market or garage sale.  Paint mismatched frames or use them as is for a great shabby chic look.  In this image, the Za Za Hotel has created a striking display of celebrity drawings in identical frames hung in a grid, but the effect can be just as lovely in a freeform design.

Wall decals – Wall decals are the next big thing in home decorating, and can be perfect for livening up foyer walls.  Dozens of online retailers sell wall decals in a variety of patterns and colors, or you can make your own.   Craft stores sell die-cutting machines with a limitless amount of options for creating the perfect piece of art for your walls, or if you’re artistic and good with a craft knife, you can create and cut out your own designs.  Cling vinyl, which will stick to flat surfaces without an adhesive, can be purchased in nearly any quantity and is widely available at craft stores and online auction sites.

1.    Organization station – If you manage a busy family, the foyer can be a great place to keep track of complicated schedules and the items we all seem to need when we come and go from our homes.  Consider hanging an attractive calendar, cubbies with electronics chargers, key hooks and closed storage for shoes and cold-weather wear.   Several companies make customizable wall organization systems with combinations of writing surfaces, pin boards, storage shelves and hanging compartments.  Especially handy decorators who know their way around power tools could easily create a completely customized organization wall system for very little money.

Mirrors – a mirror is pretty standard in a foyer, but mirrors are classic décor pieces for a reason – they can make a space feel much larger by reflecting both space and light.  A mirror is also practical to have by the front door for last minute checks before heading out, and mirrors come in an infinite number of styles and sizes.  In this image, the decorator has used an ornate, oversized mirror to create a dramatic entryway in very little space.

2.    Think like a hotel – Think of your favorite hotel and how it has appointed its lobby.  While your foyer at home may not be nearly as expansive or architecturally stunning as the foyer at a hotel, you can borrow ideas and translate them to fit into your décor.   What elements make you feel as though you are somewhere special?  Fresh flowers, exquisite furniture, beautiful art?  Looking at public spaces you enjoy can help you define your own style, and provide hints at how you can achieve your own version at home.

Play with bold color – A foyer wall is the perfect place to play with a bold, daring color you want in your home but aren’t brave enough to use to paint an entire room.  A two-story wall painted a bold color is an art piece in itself, as well as making a dramatic backdrop for an art collection.  In this image, the decorator has painted the walls a very bright pink – not a color many people would expect to find in an entryway – but brings it together with coordinating fabrics and furnishings, causing the bold color to blend into the background while making the pieces in the room shine.  While this style isn’t for everyone, it does demonstrate how effective strong color can be in a foyer.  The accent colors are equally bold, yet the overall picture is very polished.

3.     Make an art niche – A small wall can be a great backdrop for some of your favorite decorative pieces.  In this photo, the decorator used a painting, a two light sconce and a small table of items to create a very welcoming, warm area in a tiny amount of space.  Note how the art pops against the bold, textured wall color.

Family memory wall – While a collection of family photos is always touching, think outside of the box if you’d like to pay tribute to your family’s accomplishments on your foyer walls.  Instead of limiting yourself to school photos and wedding pictures, find creative ways to display your family’s history.  Frame a piece of your wedding dress with pressed flowers from your bouquet or a great piece of art your child created at school.   Make scrapbook pages of your family’s vacations and frame them to hang.

Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, is an interior designer who illustrates how simple it can be to use wooden wall artwork and large abstract wall art.

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Suggestions for Hanging Wall Art in Groups

Saturday, September 24th, 2011

Creating an art wall is one of the quickest ways to personalize your space.  A grouping of carefully selected art pieces can bring a bland space to life, and is perfect for renters who can’t paint but still want to bring some sass to living spaces.  Creating a delightful wall takes only your imagination, a hammer, some nails, a ruler, a level,  a few pieces of paper cut to the shape of your art and a roll of tape.

Basic Tips
No matter what you plan to do with your walls, the steps to create the best look are the same.  Once you’ve chosen your pieces, trace each onto a piece of newspaper and cut them out.  Use these to try out different arrangements before you hang the actual art. Use your ruler and level instead of trying to guess or eyeball where each piece should go.  Mark nail holes with a pencil and apply a small piece of clear tape on the wall before driving in the nail to prevent drywall or plaster from cracking.  When you’re satisfied, replace the paper decoys with actual art.

Find A Common Thread
Here we see a simple arrangement of five paintings by artist Marisa Haedike.   Connected by a color palette and similar theme, the paintings stand out against the mustard yellow background.  Like an outfit that makes you feel like the best possible version of yourself, a well planned art grouping can turn a nice room into a fantastic room.  This type of wall art group is the easiest to master, even for those who don’t consider themselves decorators.
Start with five paintings which are similar in size, are the right scale for the wall, and share at least one characteristic.  That characteristic can be the same kind of frame, a color or subject, but make sure you can visually connect each image to every other image.  Hang in two lines, either horizontally or vertically, with two pictures in one line and three in the other.   Voila, instantly gorgeous wall.

Create an Illusion
This photo illustrates how you can create a headboard from a collection of framed art.  The soft pastels and gentle images in the photo wall balance beautifully with the white room and the black and white graphic on the blinds.  The overall affect is both soothing and sophisticated, classic and chic.  A monochromatic room can feel very stark, but the art selection and the rich textures in this room keep the look inviting.

Make the Most of Your Home’s Quirky Details
Here, the photo collection helps make an eleven foot wall feel less intimidating.   The decorator took advantage of an odd space in a client’s bathroom by filling it with beautifully framed family photographs.  The black, silver and white frames bring the collection together while the careful arrangement of the grid pattern creates a striking and dramatic focal point in the unusual space.

The soaring, narrow wall could easily make the small restroom feel even smaller than it is, taking advantage of it as a natural focal point was a smart decorating choice.  The rest of the bathroom, including fixtures, walls and countertops, appears to be pure white, which is a perfect backdrop for this collection.  The small individual image size makes the wall feel like a patchwork quilt.

While the frames are different shapes and sizes, there is a certain amount of symmetry in this design.  Notice that the four long rectangular frames are identically sized and used as anchor pieces in the corners of the design.  The four similarly shaped small square frames are also grouped in twos, giving the overall design balance. Creating this wall is as simple as the five art piece mentioned previously, just on a larger scale. Pick the art you want to use, lay out your design with paper patterns,  and check every piece with a ruler and a level.

Get Crafty
The following images show different ways to create an art wall group with a variety of projects.  If you fancy yourself as artistic, you may wish to try your hand at creating your own art.  Not only will you save money, you’ll also have a wall you know is completely one-of-a-kind.

Fabric Finesse
This individual uses beautiful fabric samples in a bright spring time color palette to create a bright and cheerful art grouping.   To recreate this look, gather an assortment of fabric scraps and head to the local hardware store to purchase a couple of sheets of hardboard, which is essentially pegboard without the holes.   If you don’t have the resources to cut the board to size yourself, ask the hardware store to cut your sheets of hardboard down to size for you.   Sand the edges of the cut pieces to remove any rough patches, then stretch each piece of fabric around a piece of board and secure to the back with a staple gun.  Avoid using glue or other adhesive which may bleed through fabrics.

Quick and Gorgeous
This project is as simple as purchasing 12 LP record album cover frames and decorative paper.  Paper designed for scrapbook pages ( 12” x 12”) is the perfect size and comes in an endless variety of colors and patterns.  Simply slide paper into the frame, measure and hang.

A collection like this is only limited by your imagination.  Consider using record album covers, wrapping paper, fabric, art paper or your own art in place of the scrapbook paper.   Remember to keep your images connected in some way to give your overall project a sense of being intentional  and put together.   Even a grid of identical solid colored blocks can be visually interesting .

An Artist’s Interpretation
Finally, this image illustrates what a really talented digital artist can create.  This collage is made of photos, much like the tower in the bathroom above, but the artist has taken the images a step farther by personalizing the individual pictures with his or her own stamp.   The vintage, sepia toned images used as a foundation are beautiful alone; with the artist’s additions they become extraordinary.

Jessica Ackerman is a freelance writer and works for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com. She shares her wealth of knowledge on wood wall art and tree of life wall art.

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Ideas for Decorating a Contemporary Bedroom with Bright Colors

Friday, September 23rd, 2011

Contemporary design is a perfect choice for decorators who love bright, dynamic colors. While some contemporary design elements focus on clean lines and minimalism in a neutral or black/white color scheme, there is plenty of room for bright splashes of punch color. The bedroom, long seen as a room, which needs to be decorated in soothing, pale colors, can actually be a great place to experiment with bold color. While we all use our bedrooms to relax and unwind, bright colors can help us brighten our moods in the mornings and energize us to face the day. In this article, we will look at five fun and funky contemporary bedrooms, which have used bright, fun colors to create awesome sleeping spaces.

Sleek and Understated
This gorgeous bedroom is a wonderful example of the power of color in minimalist design. Without the painting over the bed and the bright cerulean stripe, this room would be boring and feel bottom heavy. The flash of blue is both a surprise and a delight to the eye; as a result, it makes the room feel lighter and balanced. Waking up in a bad mood in this room seems impossible.

Lighthearted and Funky
This room is an experiment in contrast. The solid white walls, ceiling, bedding, floor and furnishings create a perfectly blank canvas. The decorator has added layers of shades of green, gold and blue to create a very contemporary space with a sense of humor. The mix of old and new materials in the décor above the fireplace, as well as the hodgepodge of styles of fabric used on the pillows and throws in the room create mini-juxtapositions throughout the space. Note the deep turquoise sari fabric on the bed and the black, white and yellow French toile on the bedside lamp. The butterfly mirror, the Eames chair in the corner and the miniature fireplace add a hint of quirkiness and fun to the space as well.

Lofty Ideals
As many individuals and families continue to move into refurbished loft spaces, many decorators are faced with the beauty and the challenge of decorating around open brick. An open brick wall can add so much texture and character to a room, but it can be difficult to keep it from becoming dominant. In this photo, the teenage room owner has created a bold color palette to compliment the brick. Sticking with red, orange and beige with accents in black and white makes the whole room work together. Notice how few patterns are used – brick has a bold pattern already, the solid colors do not compete.

Trendy Chic
This room features an up to the minute color scheme. Apple green, pumpkin orange, chocolate brown and charcoal gray in combination are very hot right now. It is a very crisp, fresh color scheme, which pops against basic black and/or white. The individual who decorated this room made a wise choice about using trendy colors and confined the use to the bedding. Replacing a duvet and sheets when this palette goes out of style will be simple and relatively inexpensive. Adding lots of light keeps the room bright and functional for many purposes.

Shapely Chic
This sitting area demonstrates how to add splashes of color and shape to a contemporary space. The rounded backs on the loveseat and chairs, as well as the bright and cheery round rugs and the fun hanging lights add softness to the hard, square lines of the room. Even the utilitarian light fixture in the center of the ceiling has several circular elements. This room is a great example of how a little color can go a long way in creating a fun, unique space with lots of visual interest.

Online contributing editor for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, Jessica Ackerman has extensive design experience, using tree of life wall hanging and wooden wall hangings.

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