DESIGN & CONSTRUCTION ARTICLES Entertaining Tips
Sprucing Up a Spare Bedroom
Here are a few ideas that will give your room a much needed dose of organization and give you the feeling that all is well. So calm down and relax…This first step is easy…just push off the stuff on the bed and lie down for a few quiet minutes. During this time you will be assessing the contents of the room and making a list of the furnishings and asking yourself "Do I really need" questions. You know, Do I really need this old rocker or can I throw if out? After all it's to late to consider a yard sale. So be brave and throw the stuff out…you can do this!
Once a room is clear of clutter, look at the space from the perspective of your guest. All they really want is to have a nice bed and to feel comfortable and attractive. Here's how. To give the space a different feeling try turning the bed so that it is catty-corner directly across from the door. Next, examine the old bureau and attached mirror. With a straight slot screw drive, unscrew the mirror off the bureau back and proceed to hang it on the wall high enough so that even a tall person can see into the surface completely. If you need to add a hanging wire, most hardware stores sell the kits for under $3.00. Position the mirror of-center of the bureau so that a big lamp or large floral arrangement can be added to the other side for a look that is anything but typical.
New bed sheets can really be a great way to spruce up a room without spending a fortune. Simply purchase 2 sets of different colored solid sheets, which compliment your existing spread of comforter. Mix and match the sheets and place several sleeping pillows on the bed arranged in a stacked fashion for form instant decorative shams. Throw in a few accent pillows and you'll have a comfy bed. Don't forget to wash the new sheets before arranging the bed; this helps get rid of the stiffness and the sizing smell. Speaking of aroma, add a shallow bowl of potpourri to the night stand and spray the bed pillows with a mild perfume so that your "new" guestroom really looks, feels, and smells ready for your special guests..
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Decorating for a Dinner Party
WOW…WHAT AN UNDERTAKING! Anytime that you have a large gathering of folks in your home for a festive occasion it's CAUSE FOR PANIC! It seems that anytime a woman decides to entertain in the home, a new strain of the DECORATING BUG invades. It's hit all of us. I now that I really go into "spruce up overdrive" if the guest list includes a few out of town relatives. To help with that overwhelming feeling and sense of "WHY DID I AGREE TO DO THIS BLUES" here are a few quick tips which will ease your decorating mind whenever you decide to entertain at home on a large scale.
Conserve your time and energy by only concentrating on those areas that will be occupied during the party. Begin by taking a few color photos of the rooms where the party will take place. By looking at your room (via the use of photos) you'll be able to view the space as if you were a guest seeing the room for the first time. Only spend time, effort and decorating spruce up dollars on those areas that seem cluttered, disorderly, and in need of general cleaning. If YOU don't notice an eyesore in the photo, good chances are neither will your guests. Okay by now you're saying "BUT WHAT ABOUT THE REST OF THE HOUSE?" Well the answer is simple. The night of the party simply block off those areas you'd rather not have folks see. A simple but yet effective way to stop unwanted snooping eyes is to close and lock the doors into all areas that are not "ON TOUR". For rooms that take up the entire second floor, head 'em off at the stairs! A decorative ribbon or cord accented with fresh flowers swaged across the bottom step proves to be a nice way of saying "no entry". For first floor hallways, a large green plant in a shiny brass container positioned in the middle of the hallway works well to give a subtle cue that this area is "off limits" to guests.
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Decorating for an Outdoor Party
Early fall is a great time to host a party; the weather is still warm and the outdoor get-together spirit is still high! The added benefit of hosting an autumn party is that is can still be held outside, and you don't have to worry about your homes interior, since most of the activity will be happening on the deck or patio. The only interior rooms that will receive guest attention are the entry, guest bath, and kitchen serving areas. For the other rooms, a well placed plant, or simple locking of the door will keep guest confined to only those areas you feel comfortable in sharing with others. To spruce up those activity rooms place a few of these decorative suggestions to the test; the efforts will only result in rave reviews!
ENTRY For the entry light fixture, replace the 100 watt bulb with a 60 watt pale pink or peach colored bulb. The subtle yet effective lighting, will not only flatter your guests complexion but the gentle lighting helps get the party off to a great start! And be sure to add a non-floral scented potpourri to a nearby bulb ring or add a few drops of environmental oil down the heat/air vent. Using a scent other than sweet smelling flowers will please even the most masculine of guests and give your home a warm and pleasing aroma. I recommend a scent that is woodsy with a touch of spice, the popular heavy vanilla scent is too aromatic and can mask the natural smells of the party food.
GUEST BATH Again, turn the lights down low and be sure to provide lots of creature comforts. A well placed basket filled with small travel size items such as aspirin, feminine hygiene products, mouth wash etc. can make a guest really appreciate your hospitality especially in an embarrassing moment!
KITCHEN Clear off those cluttered countertops, get rid of the pill bottles on the window sill, and clean out the refrigerator. Now you're ready to decorate! For a nice country touch, try hanging dried garlic and pepper strands to the sides of the upper cabinet, which is located closest to the deck door. On the floor under a window or next to the hallway door, add a huge 22" basket filled with dried baby breath, and in front of the sink, add a new woven scattered area rug. They come in lots of pretty plaid patterns and are cheap; most under $10.00. For safety, be sure to add a non-skid pad underneath. If you get the plastic dipped carpet pads, by several, and you can even use the new pads as drawer liners or under the kitchen sink to help keep your cleaning products from falling over.
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Holiday Spruce Ups
Check out these 12 decorating tips to get you started o the upcoming holiday season
Add a quick touch of decorating pizzazz to your powder room ceiling: Using a natural sea sponge simply dip into a can of high gloss paint in the same color as your existing ceiling and apply in a random pattern. The resulting ceiling finish will be subtle yet elegant.
Update your old mini blinds by adding a simple 1" decorative tape or wide grosgrain ribbon overtop of the existing string ladder. Start by hanging the tape overtop of the string ladder on each side of the blind, allowing 2-3 inches extra length at the top and bottom. Then whip stitch the tape/ribbon around the string ladder loosely securing the tape to the blind. Tape the extra length to the top head rail and bottom bar...WOW...instant designer look
Give you plastic laminate countertops a new lease on life; spray a high quality furniture polish directly on the countertops, let sit for about 5 minutes and then, in a circular motion with a clean cotton cloth, buff into the surface. You'll be amazed at the difference.
Add a touch of holiday sparkle to your high ceiling areas. Simply change the lightbulbs to the new Halogen PAR bulbs...thousands of mirror like facets will flood your room with crisp clear white light while actually saving your money. Halogen bulbs actually use less energy while providing more lumens (the amount of light provided) to your overall space.
Give your simple window "topper" treatments a fesiitve holiday look; using a ready made floral spray swag consisting of fruit and holiday greenery just bend the arrangement in a light arch and prop overtop of the window valance. For windows 48 inches in width be sure to use 2 floral swags tied together in the middle with a festive holiday bow.
Spark up your holiday dinner table with candles and a few ripe pears. Simply group together 3 large off white pillar candles on a large serving platter. Around the base of the candles, add 3-5 bright green pears resting on a base of fresh holiday greenery...WOW instant centerpiece! And don't forget to keep the wicks trimmed to 1/4 inch and away from any drafts...safety first!
Why bother removing your regular household decorative floral arrangements for special displays created specifically for the holidays? Simply add a few sprigs of holiday greenery and several sprays of red berries to any floral arrangement and instantly you've created a new look that says "welcome to my Holiday home"!
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Deborah Burnett appears regularly on HGTV, National TV and worldwide radio with design ideas and decorating tips. She is a nationally recognized health and wellness design authority and keynote presenter bridging the gap between science and evidence based epigenetic design which explores how the body and brain are affected by the interior environment. As a member of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine she specializes in research and design pertaining to how color, light, sound and daylight affect sleep.
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