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. Yet this is not the case. You can easily find ways to decorate your home with inexpensive art that still results in a wonderfully decorated room. If you are on a budget and still want to include art in your home décor, then here are some great ways to add interest and character to your home without spending much money.

Find Free Artwork around the House
With a quick look around your home, you are sure to find many pieces that can easily be framed to create a beautiful addition to a room. Keep an eye out for such things as: hanging calendars with pictures, postcards, greeting cards, and even a decorative flag. You can even add something special to some of these pieces to make them look more professional: simply matte them with matting board in the frame.

Look to Nature for Art Pieces
Quite a few different things from nature can be framed in a shadow box or even a matted frame. For instance, you can frame a collage you’ve created from pressed flowers and leaves. Other items from nature such as sea shells, seeds, pinecones, branches, and flowers can all be used as pieces of art. It may take a little creativity to design a collage using these items, but your efforts will be well worth it, as you will end up with a piece of artwork that fits your style perfectly.

Take Your Own Photographs for Your Artwork
If you have your own camera or can borrow one from a friend to take your own pictures, then the possibilities are endless for creating art for your home. After all, you can take pictures of just about anything: from flowers and trees, to houses and the sky . If you really want to get creative, you can 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.

If you have an empty wall you need to fill, you can buy matching frames in different sizes and arrange the photographs on the wall. If you’re not that creative, then enlist the help of a friend to take photos or go the more traditional route and take pictures of your family to hang on the walls.

If you get creative, you will be able to come up with any type of artwork for your home that matches your budget. Without much difficulty, you can 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. Items like fabric swatches, buttons, magazine clippings, and other small things you run across can be used to make a collage for a shadowbox or frame. Take the time to look around your house and yard. If you use what you have, you will find that there are many possibilities for inexpensive artwork that can be displayed in your home.

Many different factors go into choosing interior paint colors. Things such as a certain design style you’re trying to achieve or a piece of furniture you’re trying to match can all affect the choice you make for the paint color of the room. Even with all these different factors influencing your decision, there are still certain guideline you should follow when picking interior paint colors.

Don’t Rush Into a Paint Color Choice
Thousands of different interior paint colors are available, so it’s never a good idea to rush into a color decision without proper planning. The first step involves visiting your local hardware or paint store. There you can gather paint chips in whatever colors catch your eye and fit the style you envision for the room. Be sure to get a variety of chips. Things can look very different once you get home and see the color in the room.

Once you get home with your paint chips, it’s not enough to simply hold them up to the wall. It’s also important to walk around with them to compare them with the furniture, the flooring, and the windows. This will help you make sure that the color is well suited to everything in the room that you plan on keeping after the remodel. If you are having trouble picking a color, you may also want to ask for opinions from others once you have narrowed it down. Sometimes other people are able to see something that you don’t.

Make Your Own Interior Paint Color
If you’re having a difficult time finding a paint color that you absolutely love, consider making your own. In most paint stores, you can now find a custom service where they will actually match a color for you. You can bring in a painting or a fabric swatch from your room, and they will match the color for you. This can cost you more in the long run, but it is well worth it if you’re able to achieve the style you envision for your room.

Choose an Interior Paint Finish
Once you’ve determined your color of paint, you next need to pick out what type of finish you want in your room. It’s important to remember that the finish of the paint will affect the way that the paint looks. For instance, if can make some paint colors look darker or lighter, depending on the type of finish you choose.

• Flat Finish: This type of finish results in a matte or duller finish. If you want to camouflage imperfections, this is not a good type of finish, since the light will not reflect off the paint. This type of finish is also not advisable for areas that have a lot of traffic, as it is harder to clean than other finishes.
• Eggshell Finish: Just like an eggshell, this paint finish has a small shine to it. This is a very popular finish, since they are easier to clean and their subtle shine reflects light in the room.
• Satin Finish: Although this finish also has a small shine to it, it has a smoother appearance. Satin paints work great in high-traffic rooms, since they are much easier to keep clean.
• Glossy: This finish is as exactly as it sounds. What you end up with is a finish that has a very high gloss or shine to it. Semi-gloss finishes are also available that result in a little less shine. Glossy finishes are rarely used on a whole interior wall. Rather they are popular choices for accessories like trim and doors.

Paint colors can be quite easily changed, but you still want to make sure you do your best to pick the interior paint color that best fits your style and is easy on the eyes. Changing the paint color of a room, after all, can truly change the room’s entire look.

Many people envision their bedrooms as a romantic getaway within their home. To decorate your bedroom with a romantic flair takes some time and consideration, as you need to entice all five of your senses. It isn’t enough just to put silk sheets on your bed and light some candles. To be truly romantic, your bedroom needs to be well thought out, appealing to both you and your partner.

Creating a Romantic Bed
Essential for a romantic bedroom is for the bed to be as inviting as possible. Don’t forget to include luxurious sheets and blankets, plush pillows, and definitely a comfortable mattress. For the color scheme, choose calming colors like light blue, pink, and ivory, or jewel-toned colors like purple and emerald green. For a really rom antic mood, avoid frilly lace and uncomfortable accents.

Finding the Perfect Romantic Lighting
For a romantic feel in the bedroom, you want to be sure to avoid harsh bright lights. Rather, look for more of a soft filtered light for the room. A light bulb with a lower wattage will give you a softer light. Or consider using lamps to light the room instead of an overhead light fixture. All you need is a very basic light fixture. You might even consider a chandelier if you have the room. Another great idea is to use decorative lamp shades, which will filter the light to another color such as light pink or a soft red.

Adding Romantic Accessories
One of the most important accessories to give a romantic bedroom ambience is candles. There are many different varieties to choose from. You might add floating candles that you can place in a glass vase or large pillar candles that sit on decorative plates or boxes. No matter the décor, you should be able to find a type and color of candles that fits your room. Other accessories for a romantic bedroom include canopy drapes, decorative mirrors, flowers, and framed artwork. One thing you should definitely not include is the television. After all, there is no need for distractions in the bedroom.

Making a Romantic Bedroom Practical
Don’t forget, you still have to live and sleep in your bedroom. Some people tend to go overboard. Then afterward they find that they are uncomfortable in their own bedroom. A “romantic flair” doesn’t necessarily mean you need to clutter your bedroom with dozens of accessories. For starters, choose a few key piece to include in the room. Then you can work from there.

Your bedroom can have the romance and atmosphere you’re looking for and still be very simple. Don’t be afraid to also include practical items in your room, such as an oak nightstand or wood chest. There are a varieties of ways to dress these items up, either with accessories or with fabrics to make them flow with the romantic style.

Not surprisingly, a romantic look is often a popular choice for the bedroom. By providing you with a comfortable and inviting place to lay your head at night, your bedroom can become a great getaway from the rest of the home.

The Barn Furniture (1945) on Sepulveda Blvd. one block south of Victory Blvd.

This picture was taken in 1945 soon after the Tubermans bought the business from an unfinished and patio furniture shop owner for $8,000 inclusive of land and inventory. Phil Tuberman brought his experience in the bicycle business and Millie Tuberman brought her love for design to The Barn Furniture and the two made an unstoppable team.

In the early years, redwood patio furniture was a significant portion of the business due to its durability and rot-resistant properties. However, because cutting redwood was not ecologically safe and considerably expensive, The Barn drifted away from this west coast wood. Fortunately, The Barn Furniture has recently found that east coast red cedar provides the same rot-resistant properties that the redwood provided without the same shortage.

If you have a dog or a cat for a pet, you know that not every interior decorating idea is going to work. Just like those with young children in the home, you have to take your pets into consideration when you decorate. Fortunately, these days those in search of pet-friendly décor have plenty of options.

Pet-Friendly Flooring Ideas
Even with the most well-trained animals, things like mud tracks and bathroom accidents are bound to happen. In this situation, you’re best off going with a low-maintenance flooring option in your home.

Carpet is probably the worst flooring options for households with pets. Both animal hair and dander are hard to remove and thus tend to stay in the carpet for a long time. Likewise, mud, urine, and other pet stains are also harder to remove from carpet than other flooring options.

For households with pets, the best flooring options are hardwood floors, laminate flooring, and ceramic tile. Not only are these types of floors easy to clean, but they can endure more traffic from your pets.

If you do decide to go with a hardwood floor, be sure to put a finish on the floor to protect it from your pet’s nails. Otherwise, you need to be sure to trim your pet’s nails on a regular basis. Add some area rugs to these types of floors for more color and comfort. Just be sure they can easily be cleaned in the washer and dryer.

Pet-Friendly Home Fabrics
Your choice of fabrics is another huge décor consideration that comes into play when you have pets in the home. This is especially important if you have any kind of pet that goes on the furniture, whether it’s a dog or a cat or even another pet like a bird or a lizard.

For pets like dogs and cats, be sure to choose a fabric that’s easy to clean so you don’t have to worry about pet hair being a constant problem. If pet hair tends to be a problem for you, then select fabrics that are close to the color of your pet. This way, you can avoid having to clean the couches every day. If you already have a black-haired dog or cat in your home, a white or tan couch might not be such a good idea.

Another important thing to consider is how easy the fabric is to clean. Microfibers tend to be much easier to clean than other fabrics. Woven, textured fabrics are harder to remove stains from and will actually trap any pet hair.

If you decide to get new furniture, you might also consider putting a stain guard on your furniture. Then stains can easily be lifted off by following the manufacturer’s directions.

If you have a pet in your home, everything about the décor is going to be influenced in one way or another. For example, if you want to put a flower arrangement in your living room, like on a wood coffee table or oak end table, you need to be sure to find a place that your pet will not be able to access. Thus when it comes to pet-friendly decorating, be sure to not only pay attention to the flooring and fabrics but to the smaller details, like flowers and candle placement.

A child’s playroom provides a room in the house where a child can have fun and enjoy having his or her own space. Not only that, but it allows you to get your child’s toys out of sight and into one room. However, this doesn’t mean that the playroom should not have functional decorating. By following these great ideas, you can create a playroom that’s both perfect for your children and functional for you.

Have Plenty of Storage Options
In order to keep the playroom as neat as possible, you need to provide plenty of storage options. This way, when it comes time to clean up, everything in the room will have its proper place. You want to make sure you have plenty of organization and storage so that your child’s playroom doesn’t end up looking like a tornado blew through it on a daily basis.

Furniture pieces such as wood chests can provide storage, as well as plastic bins and shelving units on the wall.

Be sure that any small items, such as puzzles, art supplies, and other toys, are stored in individual baskets or bins.

Make the Playroom Room Durable
Don’t put your favorite piece of furniture in your child’s playroom unless you plan on it getting broken. Even little girls tend to be rough on furniture and other decorating items. The easiest way to keep the room durable is to keep any décor items simple and kid-friendly.

Plastic bins and baskets can double up as storage and decorations for the room. Install rugs that are easy-to-clean in darker colors and patterns that will hide stains.

Keep Play Areas Safe for Your Kids
Bolt any dressers, bookshelves, or wood desks to the wall to prevent them from falling on a climbing child. It’s not a bad idea to use only children’s size furniture, as furniture that’s too tall can be unsafe for younger children. Store any small toys and art supplies up high where younger children won’t be able to reach them. For any homes with babies or toddlers, it’s important to baby-proof the room by placing covers on all the outlets and keeping any hanging blind cords from the windows out of reach.

Let Your Child Have a Say in the Playroom
If your children have a say in how to decorate the playroom, they will enjoy that room so much more. It’s easy to ask your children’s opinion on such things as the color of the walls or what color carpet they want. Even a themed playroom isn’t that difficult with simple things like stencils and stick-ons added to the walls.

In the end, if your child doesn’t like his or her playroom or is mad because it’s not what he or she wanted, that child is going to be less likely to want to play in that room and keep it clean. Allowing your child to have some say in the décor and items in the room to a certain degree will make things far easier for everyone.

A playroom is meant to be a child’s favorite place in the house. Not only does it give them a chance to be independent, but it also gives them their own space in which to be creative and have fun. If you follow these decorating ideas, you’ll find that decorating a playroom can be both simple and inexpensive.

You can quickly and easily add style to any room in your home by using any of several painting techniques on your walls. These techniques make any DIY paint job look like a professional one.

There are certain things you need to do before you can start any type of painting on your walls. All your supplies need to be ready. In addition, the walls need to be prepped by filling in any cracks or holes and taping off the trim and windows with blue painter’s tape. Depending on what technique you decide to use, you will also need to be sure you have some special tools as well.

Rag Painting Technique
When you paint with the rag painting technique, no paint brushes or rollers are used. Instead, you use a simple rag (such as an old t-shirt or any type of cotton rag) to apply the paint. The result is a marbled effect on your walls.

To paint with rags:

• First dip your rag into the paint, shaking off the excess.
• Dab the rag onto the wall, taking care to apply the paint in whatever pattern you’ve chosen. But be sure not to spread out the pattern too much.
• For a creative twist to this technique, try applying a darker base color first and then rag on the lighter paint color.

Sponge Painting Technique

This particular technique is used to give a wall depth and interest. Before you can begin sponging, you will first need to apply a base color to the wall.

To apply this sponge painting technique:

• Taking a regular or sea sponge, dip it carefully into the paint or glaze of your choice.
• Starting from the edge of the wall and working your way in, dab the sponge in a random pattern.
• You can either choose to only do one wall in the room or complete all the walls in the room using this sponging technique.

Color Washing Technique

This painting technique adds a subtle finish to your walls that gives the appearance of floating color. This is a good technique for those walls with flaws that you want to cover up. This technique is a little more time consuming, however. Layers must be built up in order to get the full effect of the color wash.

To color wash:

• First, paint the wall the color you’ve selected as your base color. You’ll then need to wait for it to completely dry.
• Then, with a slightly different color or a complementary color, come back and paint another layer.
• When painting this next layer, only use a paint brush. Apply the paint in all different directions, going over your strokes. In this way, the base color will show through in random areas.
• If you want an additional color to show on the wall, you can do another layer of painting this way.

Whether you’re looking to redecorate your kitchen or bedroom, these painting techniques can be used in any room in your home. By instantly adding style to your walls, they will perk up the décor of any room.

A great way to decorate and add interest to any room or simply compliment your existing furniture is by hanging artwork on the walls. Some homeowners become completely baffled when it comes to hanging artwork in the home, wondering where they should hang it, how high they should hang it, and what pieces of artwork look the best. If you feel hesitant when it comes to hanging artwork or unsure whether your pictures are right, then follow this basic guide to help you make the most out of the artwork on your walls.

Find the Right Height to Hang Your Art
When hanging artwork, you need to be sure that the center of the picture or group of pictures is hung at eye level. Although this may not always be possible, it’s a great starting point to remember when hanging anything on the walls in your home.

Group Together Pictures and Art in a Fluid Manner
Be sure, when hanging a group of pictures, to think of them as all one unit. This means that you need to be sure they flow well together. You can easily do this by laying out the pictures on the floor. This allows you to see what design concept works best. Then the pictures can be hung straight from the floor, allowing you to keep the design you wanted.

Size Is Everything When Displaying Artwork
It’s important that you choose artwork that directly relates to the size of the wall you’re going to hang it on. A wide picture isn’t going to work on a narrow wall. Instead, choose picture that’s narrow and tall, or hang a set of pictures that are narrow and wide. If you have a larger space, choose larger pieces of artwork or group some pieces together. You need to do more than simply hang and 8×10 picture on that large main wall.

Use Shelving to Display Artwork
For a look that’s a little bit different, try hanging a shelf on the wall. Then place art pieces on the shelf and right above the shelf. The shelf can also provide a place to put other decorative items that match the piece you are hanging. When choosing a shelf, be sure that it will match the style of the art so they will flow well with each other.

Use the Size of the Artwork to Accentuate Your Space
A large painting makes a great focal point for a room. Hanging a large piece of artwork in a room that will draw attention is a great way to keep things simple. Even better, hang it over a fireplace to make that fireplace the focal point as well.

If you want to add width to your room, hang a row of pictures to create a horizontal line. If you’re looking to add height, then go for a vertical line, stacking one or two pictures on top of each other.

Vary the Height of Your Pictures
Do you have trouble hanging pictures in a straight line? Try the offset approach. You can avoid trying to get them perfectly straight altogether by simply hanging the pictures at slightly different levels. This also keeps your décor looking more casual rather than formal. This is a great look for the family room or bedroom.

Hanging your artwork presents a great opportunity to get creative in your home. It’s helpful to follow these guidelines, but also don’t hesitate to add your own creative touch when it comes to decorating your walls with artwork.

Simply painting a room can easily freshen it up, giving it an instant new look. Yet many homeowners dread interior painting. However, if you know what to do and how to paint in an efficient manner, you’ll find that interior painting is not that bad. Follow these basic interior painting tips, and you’ll find that your next painting project will be much easier and much more fun.

1. Don’t try to prep the area and paint it all in one day
This will only leave you feeling rushed, which more times than not will lead to a bad paint job. Rather, set aside one day where you concentrate on prepping the space. If you don’t use the room much, this can even be done a few days ahead. To prepare a room for painting, you need to focus on taping the walls, laying any drop cloths, moving the furniture out of the way, and gathering all the painting supplies in the room.

2. Don’t try to paint over damaged walls
Before you even try to paint a room, it is essential that you carefully look over the walls and fix any cracks or holes you find. Any cracks and holes you find can be easily fixed with a drywall kit and some sandpaper. The drywall plaster needs some time to dry, so be sure to do this at least a day before you paint. Leave some time to sand down the area as well.

3. Select the best brushes for the paint job
For oil-based paint, go with a brush that has natural bristles. However, for water-based or latex paint, synthetic bristled brushes will give you the most even coat. Foam rollers are the most efficient way to paint a larger space. For trim and windows, though, you’ll need smaller brushes.

4. Use a primer for a more professional look
Not only does a primer make the paint go on so much more even, but it helps you avoid possible tainting from a previous wall color. Even better, you can have your primer tinted to match the color you’ve selected, which may help you avoid having to put a second coat of paint on the walls.

5. Don’t forget to use painter’s blue tape
Use masking tape for any areas you don’t want to get paint on, such as doorway frames, trim, and windows. The great thing about this tape is that when it’s applied to a smooth surface, it won’t allow the paint to seep into those areas you’re covering. When the paint has dried, you can simply remove the tape. You don’t have to worry about any of the paint coming off with it.

6. Keep plenty of old rags around for any mistakes you might make
When painting, it’s inevitable that you will drop some paint on the trim or hit something you shouldn’t with a brush.

7. Keep your strokes even when painting to ensure an even coat
It’s essential to have plenty of natural light in the room so you can see where you are painting and also find any areas you might have missed.

8. Keep any leftover paint for future touch-ups or fixes
If you don’t have the space to store a large paint can that only has a small amount of paint, then pour the leftover paint into a glass jar with a tight lid and store it that way. Label the jar with the exact color of the paint, the room it was used in, and the date, and you’ll be all set.

Painting the interior of your home isn’t as scary as it seems. With these easy tips, you are well on your way to changing the décor of your home in no time at all.

Do you find that the current look of your home is boring? Are you just looking for something different? 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
An easy place to start is by adding throw pillows to the sofa or chair. You might also place a throw blanket on the back of a sofa for added texture and color. 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. For instance, if you have a tan sofa, find decorative pillows where tan is not the main color in the design or pattern. By finding accessories that match other complementary colors in the room, you can really pull the room together.

Update Your Lighting Fixtures
Give your room a whole new glow by updating your lighting fixtures. Whether you have older fixtures or small ones, installing new lighting can make a big difference. There are many inexpensive ones available that are easy to install. Not only do you want to find a design style that fits the room, but you want to be sure the fixture gives off plenty of light to make your room brighter and therefore more welcoming.

Go Green with Your Living Room Accessories
You can easily add more color to the room with a houseplant or vase of flowers. 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. To really brighten up the room, place the flower arrangement in a prominent spot. If you decide on a houseplant, real or fake, it should also go where it will garner more attention. For instance, if you want to draw more attention to the fireplace, you might try placing a houseplant on both sides of it.

Fill Up a Blank Wall with Framed Pictures
If the walls in your room are boring, purchase a few picture frames in various shapes and sizes to hang 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 matted pictures or black-and-white images with only a touch of color for a dramatic look.

Reorganize Knickknacks with Shelving
Do you have a lot of knickknacks in your room that are getting lost in the shuffle? Consider grouping them together on a mantle, wood bookshelves or installing shelving on the walls. They will better accessorize the room if you display them together in a stylish arrangement rather than just letting them get lost in the room.

Adding simple accessories allows you to easily redecorate or switch around the style design of a room. If you really want to do something totally different, you might look into moving the furniture around. You could also add new pieces of furniture to the mix, such as a new side table or oak coffee table. Adding accessories to a room should be neither hard nor expensive. Rather, just get creative and let your style show.