Bedroom Designs - Boy's Bedroom Decoration Ideas

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Gary_R._Hess]Gary R. Hess 

Every little boy deserves a room he loves. He needs a place of privacy, a place of discovery, and a place that lets him be who he wants to be.

Let's run through a few design ideas your little boy will surely love.

1. Astronaut Room

Why?

When I was small, I wanted to be an astronaut. I dreamed of racing passed stars and fighting aliens. Of course, that didn't happen. But nonetheless, I dreamed and dreamed of it as a child. Quite honestly, if my wife would let me, I'd probably do my darnedest to turn our bedroom into outer-space today.

Materials

Glow in the dark stars - Almost every kid store has them.

Astronaut helmet - You can pick one of these up during Halloween if you can't find it in the toy section of your local department store.

Spaceship model - This you can easily find in any toy section.

Bedding - Of course, make them space related.

How?

1. Throw the stickers on the wall behind the bed and the entire ceiling. It should be enough to cover both as if you were looking at the night sky.

2. The helmet should be placed on a wall shelf. Make sure it is big enough!

3. The model is something that could be used as desk decoration or as another object to place on the shelf. If you are crafty, you could even make the model into a lamp.

4. You know what to do with the bedding. Place them on the bed!

2. Music Room

Why?

Boys love music! Actually, I think the majority of humans do. Heck, even my pet parrot seems to love some good music. However, to young boys, music is an outlet. It's a way to express themselves. Giving them a room they can connect with builds trust and helps the child realize you know what it's like being their age.

Materials

Old music albums - CDs or records work best. Get them at a garage sale if you have to.

Music instruments - new, old, or even the ones they play are OK. Why hide them when you can display them?

Construction Paper, scissors, double-sided tape, pencil - Any department store or art supply store will have these.

How?

1. Place the CD cases on the wall using double-sided tape. A great pace for this is above the bed on the wall. Leave the covers inside and create a geometric shape with five or more cases. If you elected for records, hang the cover alone or the record itself on the wall for a nice retro look. You may even wish to display the cover and record side-by-side.

2. Place the musical instrument in a corner using a stand.

3. Draw and cut out notes, clefts, etc. and use double-sided tape to put them on the wall. You should make them big enough to see from a distance. If you are willing, you may actually paint the notes on the wall instead. Be creative! You can use several different colors or you can even stick with only black.

3. Animal Room

Why?

Everyone loves animals. They are cute, lovable, and they are an important part of our everyday lives.

Materials

Paint and pencil - Acrylic paint will work great and will be easy to cover if your child wants to change it later.

Stuffed animals - Having various sizes works best.

Animal figurines - Animal toys will work just as well.

How?

1. Design an animal and draw it on the wall using a pencil. Paint it.

Tip: Do an animal he enjoys, like a tiger or monkey.

2. Place the stuffed animals on chairs or desks.

3. Place the figurines around the room on shelves.

4. Add more accents through bedding or curtains.

Every little boy deserves to dream, so why not let him dream in a place he loves? If one of these doesn't fit his fancy, then choose something else based on what he loves most.

Gary R. Hess designer and creative writer invites you to always be creative and motivated. You are one of a kind and you should show that uniqueness in your home. To read more about creative interior designing, visit http://arcohessdesigns.blogspot.com/

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Bedroom-Designs---Boys-Bedroom-Decoration-Ideas&id=8948018] Bedroom Designs - Boy's Bedroom Decoration Ideas

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Basic Feng Shui For Your Home's Entrance

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Zoe_Gordon]Zoe Gordon

Feng Shui is an ancient art developed over 3000 years ago in China that revolves around the placement and design of items and buildings to best receive the most positive flow of energy (chi).

A positive Feng Shui home is said to bring good energy into your home that can result in the positive flow of money, health and love. Creating a home with positive Feng Shui can be achieved with just a few environmental changes. By implementing the below basic steps you can create more harmony in your home.

ENTRANCE

The front door is a great place to start and is highly regarded as one of the key indicators to a happy Feng Shui home. Basically, you want a clear path to your door to allow the energy (chi) free access to your home.

To create this, you need to remove any rubbish from the entrance to the street. This includes any pot plants, rubbish bins and shoes. Even if there's a big, old tree in your front yard, if it's blocking the flow of chi to your front door you need to remove it.

ENTRANCE COLOURS

Your door may also need a paint. You want everything tidied up - this is one of the first things you see when you come home and you need it to be uplifting not depressing. Choosing a front door colour isn't as simple as 'yellow for happy'. You need to know the direction your door faces. A simple compass phone app can help here.

EAST FACING - Wood or element colours like green and brown.

SOUTH FACING - Red, yellow, purple, orange and pink/magenta. These need to be strong, vibrant colours in keeping with the fire element that the South direction represents.

WEST FACING - White or grey or earth colours. White or grey represent the metal Feng Shui element and metal comes from earth.

NORTH FACING - Blue and black colours to represent the Feng Shui element of water.

MAIN ENTRY

You want to really think about the home from the position of the front door and the energy flowing into the home. Where does the energy go once it's inside? Think of the energy like a beam of travelling light. You don't want to bounce this back out or have it leave as quickly as it came in straight out a back door.

If you have a mirror opposite your front door this is going to deflect the energy back out of the home. Likewise, if your front door is directly opposite your back door the energy will flow right out. For really good Feng Shui, you want the energy to flow freely inside and shared amongst all the rooms in your home.

Upon opening your front door, positive chi can be created by a bold and vibrant rug, flowers or art.

Feng Shui is an ongoing 'art of the home' that needs to regularly be refreshed and updated. Any stagnant area of the home will eventually express itself in areas of your life. To keep things fresh and flowing it's important to clear out any unwanted clutter... and keep it that way. So grab a donation bag and get rid of the old, unwanted aspects of your life to create a free pathway of chi and energy into your life.

House & Garden Cleaning offers cleaning services Brisbane-wide including carpet cleaning, pest control and gardening. http://www.houseandgardencleaning.com.au

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Basic-Feng-Shui-For-Your-Homes-Entrance&id=8860931] Basic Feng Shui For Your Home's Entrance

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How to Create a Vintage Style Home Decor

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jo_Betts]Jo Betts

Vintage style is most definitely a buzz right now with many on trend homes embracing a modern vintage theme. Old school glamour and rustic quirky furniture encapsulates all that we love about vintage style. Although vintage style may seem costly it's not all about searching for those one off unique crafted pieces. Vintage can be achieved with carefully selected furniture both large and small along with the right accessories. Be as creative and imaginative as you like when selecting your vintage pieces this will allow you to create a truly unique design in your home. If you're sold on the idea of a vintage style home read on to check out our simple tips on ways to introduce a vintage theme into your home.

• Statement wallpaper

When creating your vintage style its best to create a specific focal point in your room wherever that may be so you don't overpower the entire space. Wallpaper is a great way to easily create a feature and can create a fun, striking look without being overbearing. Opt for patterned wallpaper such as a shabby chic floral print or a 70's geo metric style to create the perfect vibe. Geo prints or even tartan are great if you're after a retro vibe these wallpaper are often the perfect way to inject some colour into your room also. There's also the option of going for a printed wallpaper such as an animal print instantly adding interest to your wall.

• Rustic Furniture

Rustic style furniture is the ultimate in vintage styling. Exposed brickwork and natural wooden beams are a desirable look that many of us wish we had unfortunately we're not all lucky enough to enjoy the luxury of these natural features. However all is not lost as there are many ways to include rustic pieces with fairly minimal effort. Wooden shelving and plaques or distressed units have a very similar effect without having to make any drastic changes. Allow these pieces to truly stand out by adding subtle accessories around them and position them against a natural wash wall. Ensure the room receives lots of light and instantly you will feel a vintage vibe with the illusion of very minimal effort.

• Mirrors 

We believe no room is complete without the addition of a mirror. If you're looking to create a vintage feel a specific kind of mirror should be used. There are 2 specific types of mirrors that can be used to create a charming vintage feel. The first is more of an elegant vintage style; think elaborate frames and lavish ornate detailing. However if this is too overpowering you can always go down the route of a more subtle vintage feel such as wooden distressed frames and natural pale colours. Whichever style you select if you piece with other vintage accessories or even on a quirky wallpapered wall a mirror will increase light and space and complement the overall feel of your living space.

• Accessories

Every room requires subtle accessories which help tie the design together. When considering vintage accessories think outside the box. Quirky pieces such as a lamp or even a patterned cushion can all add pops of style to your living space. If you're into DIY you can even create the accessories yourself. Choose some retro fabric and craft your own cushion, pillow case or throw for your living room or bedroom. Consider everything even down to the smallest items such as your tea cups and lamp shades. Switching up your lamp shade to a striking geo metric print or adding a new retro cup to your dining room table set can all contribute to the vintage vibe. Whatever accessories you choose continuing the theme throughout your room will gradually create the vintage feel you're after.

Exclusive Mirrors is a specialist online shop that sells just mirrors. With over ten years experience we consider ourselves to be experts in the industry.

Our promise means you will get the best mirrors at the best prices. Simply call 01709 477701 or visit our website http://www.exclusivemirrors.co.uk

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?How-to-Create-a-Vintage-Style-Home-Decor&id=9079325] How to Create a Vintage Style Home Decor

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Your Office In The Garden

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Dwijen_Borah]Dwijen Borah 

When you think of a home office, does a garden office come to mind? Well, it's possible and even fun to build your own workspace while enjoying your garden at the same time. You can start by purchasing a sturdy and safe shed and then decorating and organizing it to your liking. You can create an open shed without doors or a closed door shed that has windows so you can look outside your window at the garden while you work. Look through interior design magazines or on home decor magazines to get ideas for your shed for the home office.

When constructing your cozy office for the garden, you should use wood flooring because it not only looks inviting and rustic, but it is also environmentally friendly. There are all kinds of wood flooring and wood finishes to choose from and it is safe for kids and pets who come to the office. Laminated wood flooring is an inexpensive option but if you want a more authentic flair, choose traditional hardwood flooring. Also install high quality insulation along with the flooring.

To make the garden office more functional, it is a good idea to attach your main house's electricity to the shed as this reduces the need for getting separate utilities for your office. You should purchase some sturdy padlocks for the shed's door to secure the office.

You can also hook the plumbing from your main house to the shed in case you plan to cook or bathe while in the shed.

Decorate your shed to make it personal for you. On the outer part of the shed you can plant some bold colored flowers such as violets, sunflowers, carnations, roses, yellow tulips and orchids. Another idea would be to paint a garden themed mural on the front of the shed. For the inside of the shed put up photos of your garden on the walls and on top of your desk you can stencil images of fruits and vegetables. Purchase some vintage chairs and rugs from the flea market and install some pendant lighting for a calm feel to the office. Paint the walls in your favorite color.

There are benefits of having an office in your garden. It serves as a change of scenery from the traditional workplace or even your usual office inside the main house. You experience a sense of freedom in being able to work in peace without the noise and anxieties of the day. A garden office lets you enjoy your garden in a new way and it's also cost effective. Moreover, you're living a more sustainable life with this kind of office. When you work in this setting your productivity level increases and you'll also develop more ideas for your projects. Nature has a way of boosting a person's creativity.

An office in the garden may seem like an unusual idea but actually it is a trend that has been catching on for the past few years. It's not hard to construct and it will last for many years depending on how well you build it.

For more information on building sheds step by step, plans and designs visit Dwijen Borah's website [http://www.shedplansdesigns.net]http://www.shedplansdesigns.net.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Your-Office-In-The-Garden&id=9050254] Your Office In The Garden

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Oh Beautiful Bedroom

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Myra_C_Hoover]Myra C Hoover 

There are a number of ways to make a bedroom beautiful. If you really think about it, the bed usually is the centerpiece of a bedroom, So keeping that in mind, dressing up the bed t make the room shine is imperative, in my opinion. Duvets can be a nice example an ultimate cover for the bed. One reason is because it can be changed often and easily. Duvet covers are much like a comforter in that it comes in a variety of colors, designs and fabrics. But unlike a comforter, a duvet cover is not bulky. And duvets, like comforters, come in twin, queen and kind sizes. Now envision the bed, the centerpiece of the room. It needs to not only have a quality mattress but also quality sheets. To top that should be a quality cover. Now one of the first things a person will see is the headboard, if there is one. After that the actual bedding becomes the decorative dressing of the bedroom centerpiece, the bed. Usually decorative pillows are easy to find anywhere but sometime finding that perfect spread can be challenging, And what if you get the wrong spread. If it's a comforter the whole thing has to come off, exposing the sheets or you just keep it on until you can change it. With a duvet cover, if you need to take it off, you will still have the duvet comforter on the bed until you are able to find the duvet cover that sets the theme you want for that bedroom at that time. 

Now, finally, after a long cold winter, you can have a light and airy solid colored duvet with texture, like seersucker signature stripes or multiple color soft and cool organic fabric duvet cover. You can also have shams that match the duvet cover to complement the decorative accent pillows. The choices are endless. The sky's the limit. 

One final thought. A duvet cover can be removed and laundered as often as one would launder the sheets. Most covers are machine washable. You can have several duvets. The covers take up minimal laundry storage space. You can change a duvet cover several times a week if you wanted. Once again a reminder on how versatile it is. The soft flat bag filled with feathers, wool, down, silk, etc. known as a duvet, can be an essential part of the bedroom centerpiece, the bed.

You are invited to beauty. You are invited to create your bedroom centerpiece. You are invited to visit http://duvetcoversetsplus.com

MCH

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Oh-Beautiful-Bedroom&id=9063853] Oh Beautiful Bedroom

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Design And Style Ideas For New Kitchens

By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Jeremy_Foxe]Jeremy Foxe

The kitchen of our times is not just a place where we prepare and cook food. This is now the new venue where the family entertains guests, eats meals and stores gadgets. As we design our new kitchens, we now need to accommodate these new additional activities.

The additional activities have contributed to the increased popularity of kitchen remodels for those with older kitchens. Currently, kitchen islands, stainless steel appliances and farmhouse sinks are regular kitchen additions; while custom countertops and cabinets remain key elements of any inspirational layout.

If you're thinking of constructing a new kitchen, the following suggestions may be useful:

Determining Kitchen Layout

Installing an entirely new cooking space or carrying out a complete renovation is a great opportunity to create that kitchen you have always desired. With the expert and professional help of a home or kitchen designer, even your small space could be transformed into a remarkable place, bearing excellent functionality and abundant storage.

Generally, you have two options:

• If your cooking space is quite large, try a U- or L-shaped design that has a large centre island.

• For a small space, the galley layout would be fine. Due to the limited horizontal space, think vertically by stacking shelves and counters high up on your walls.

The Kitchen Storage

To adequately store all your cookware and appliances, you'll need to have enough drawers, cabinets and shelves. To achieve that goal, ensure that you make use of all the available spaces:

1. Include cabinets in the kitchen island.

2. Buy hanging pot racks and spice racks.

3. Invest in a good kitchen cart.

4. Place your frequently used bulky kitchen ware on the countertop.

5. Free up space by storing the less commonly used items in your store or basement.

6. Above all, get your place organized!

In Australia, there are specific rules regarding the amount of space you need to have around cook tops. The relevant rules and regulations are found in the Australian Standard AG/601-AS5601. In particular, gas burners are accorded plenty of attention, mainly because they possess naked flames.

Cabinets And Countertops 

Countertops made of granite and marble are elegant options. Concrete, stainless steel and limestone counters are also wonderful options. For that dash of colour, you may add a bright mosaic tile backsplash or pick out a floor finish made of vibrant wood.

Perhaps even more contemporary is the mix up cabinetry! Today, frosted cabinets are valued for their sleek, modern feel.

The Lighting

For a modern, super stylish and beautiful look, you may opt for tiled light or even install several backlit glass panels. This will generate effectual lighting around the workstation and your countertops.

While installing new light fixtures, make sure that you comply with all applicable regulations. Fortunately, in keeping with the new National Construction Code (NCC) regulations for lighting in domestic setups, the Australian Building Codes Board has recently launched a Lighting Calculator. The Calculator has been designed to assist lighting designers, particularly in new buildings, to successfully adhere to the new Code.

Jeremy Foxe highly recommends the services offered by Apollo Kitchens. This firm delivers excellent kitchen installation and renovation services. Whatever your tastes or preferences, you can be sure Apollo Kitchens will give you the best service. [http://www.apollokitchens.com.au/new-kitchens-nsw.html]Visit Apollo Kitchens website for more tips and ideas about new kitchen designs.

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Design-And-Style-Ideas-For-New-Kitchens&id=9066646] Design And Style Ideas For New Kitchens

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How Important is Light in the Living Room?

Proper lighting is essential for any home. It is important to maintain balance between personality and the functionality of the room when it comes to lighting the living room. One can transform the entire atmosphere of their living room within the proper use of lighting. One should remember that lighting not only has aesthetic and mood enhancing values, but play an important functional role in illuminating important task areas in the living room.

The living room is an important room where most people spend their leisure times with their families or friends. If your living room is large with different zones such as a dining area, home office or a lounging area, it is important that each zone has adequate lighting without overpowering other areas. While choosing the lighting, one should consider the atmosphere, one is looking to create and choose the bulbs and lamps accordingly. It is best to buy energy bulbs that can be dimmed easily to create an atmosphere of warmth and change the mood of the room whenever required. The work areas need to be properly lit and special places or paintings on the walls or art works, one can use spotlights to bring attention to them.

Most people spend hours choosing the perfect sofa or the paint color for their living room, but they forget the importance of lighting. For a good living room lighting, it is important to use different kind of lights and at different levels that work together to create the perfect ambience. The lighting should not only allow people to carry on with their daily lives, but can also accommodate different events and parties that takes place. A bad lighting design can make your living room look old fashioned and unattractive. Thus, proper use of lighting is very important to bring the entire space together.

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By: Dinesh Kumar

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Putting the Finishing Touches on Your Dream Bathroom Doesn’T Have to Cost a Fortune

When the time comes to re-design a bathroom, many people will focus heavily on the all-important shower or bath units. Of course this makes sense as they will very often form the centre piece to any successful bathroom design. The danger is that too much emphasis will be placed on these larger items and not enough time or money will be spent on the finishing touches.

The reality is that without spending a fortune you can transform the humble bathroom into a spectacular room. This can often be achieved through the clever use of lighting, adding a smattering of bathroom furniture or selecting from suitableshower doors when installing a new shower unit.

Freestanding Bathroom Furniture

Bathroom furniture tends to be the easiest way to reach the desired result. Even when you buy a complete bathroom suite there will be a good chance that you can still fit in some other free standing bathroom furniture.

White gloss bathroom furniture will help to ensure a neat, clean finish. Freestanding units that can house towels and cleaning materials can be used to help keep things nice and tidy.

Coordinating Colours

It is worth remembering that you don't always have to go for matching colours. This is good news when it comes to updating one or two items as it can be difficult to find an exact colour. Not to mention that one single colour can be somewhat overwhelming. Most people find that by carefully coordinating different colours they can produce a really nice theme.

The only hard and fast rule here applies when using metal finishes. These are much better when they match. An example of this could be using brass accessories next to steel accessories. This will probably look a little strange and detract from the overall quality of your bathroom.

Warm Lighting

Lighting plays its own important role in the success of a bathroom. If it is too strong it will give a clinical type appearance; similar perhaps to a dentist or doctors surgery. When the lighting is too dim it will give an almost oppressive feel to things. The trick of course is to try to get the right balance.

Halogen lighting can often achieve these results. What's more this type of lighting can often be adjusted to suit your requirements. Getting ready for work in the morning might well require a brighter light, whilst a de-stressing soak will work better with a softer light setting.

Shiny Finish

Another trick is to find materials that are easy to keep clean. Towel holders and faucets that are finished in chrome tend to make for the easiest in this area. There is a real danger that you could easily become a slave to your bathroom, having to spend vast amounts of time and energy keeping it looking great. Much better to find objects that can be wiped clean and brought back to a shiny finish with just a simple wipe of a cloth.

Upgrading your bathroom doesn't have to cost a fortune especially with the online specialists available these days. By buying easy to clean shower doors and coordinating paint colours you can turn your space into the bathroom you've always dreamed of.

Jon Smith is a frequent contributor for Asturias Bathrooms and has written many articles pertaining to all things regarding bathrooms and bathroom suites especially on such subjects as making the best of your bathroom furniture and vanity units.

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5 Ideas On How To Decorate Your Home With Lights

By Dan Lance
Holidays are great times to come together with friends and relatives. To give your home a holiday look it's wise that you install holiday lights. Here are ideas on how you can install the lights.
Be Graphic
To add a graphic shape and illumination on your front yard you should use Moravian stars. For ideal results you should group the stars in odd numbers, while randomly spacing them throughout the tree in order to create an awesome glow. In addition to giving your home a unique look, the graphic shapes of the stars will play a major role in breaking up the monotony of twinkle lights along the house and hedges.
Light the Walkways
You will definitely have a lot of guests in your home during the holiday season; therefore, it's good that you light the walkways. The best way of going about it is taking advantage of smaller trees and shrubs that might be along or around the walkway. Here you should install the lights on them.
Although, the lights might be too small to give enough light from the streets, they will light up the trails, pavers, and concrete walkways thus helping your guests to easily make their way up to your house.
Yard Structures
Do you have a beautiful yard that you'd like to show to your friends? You should use lights to do it. Here you should professionally hang the lights and then light them using a subtle glow.
Wrap the Hedges
While it might seem as a daunting task to wrap the hedges with twinkle lights, it's usually very easy if you have some experience. To make your work easy you should use net lights. Although, net lights are more expensive than standard lights, they will save you a lot of time when it comes to installation.
Light the Entry
To make it easy for people to find the entry you should consider lighting it. You should strategically place the lights in such a way that they don't distract your guests. They should also not be too bright.
Conclusion
These are ideas on how you can decorate your home with lights. When doing the decorations you should always put into consideration how each of the lights will appear from the street. If the lights are too small, they will most likely appear like clutter.
For a perfect look you should ensure that the decorative lights are proportional. This calls for you to use both large and small lights.
We have many types of holiday decoration light that you can use in decorating your home. In addition to this we also have many types of pond fountain light. Visit the given links to know more about us.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dan_Lance
http://EzineArticles.com/?5-Ideas-On-How-To-Decorate-Your-Home-With-Lights&id=9068404

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