5 Home Decorating Mistakes That Lead To Clutter by Molly Dennis

Posted on July 9, 2016 by Jeffrey Scott Thomas

Many people tend to fall prey to the common misconception “clean” necessarily bears a connotation of being “well-organized”. Unfortunately, this couldn’t be further from the truth. Often things end up in their wrong places and even though the items on the shelves in your kitchen, for instance, are perfectly aligned with one other, something appears to be lacking. Yes, you’ve guessed correctly – free space is never available and your home seems to be overflowing with various possessions, leaving you with the impression clutter reigns all over the place. We have listed five common mistakes, concerning home decoration as well as suggestions how to steer clear of committing them.

Stacked Books on your Coffee Table

Stacking books on your coffee table is not likely to cause your visitors to think you are a “well-read person”. On the contrary, it will produce a far less desirable effect as your guests will experience severe difficulties in finding space for their tea cups and saucers. That is why, it is important to remember books and bookcases agree with each other, so make sure this is where you place your favorite novels. We recommend you arrange yours according to their covers’ color for a little extra effect.

Floating Shelves

Don’t get us wrong, floating shelves are a great way to save some floor space. However, when all four walls of the room are covered in shelves overflowing with memorabilia, it leaves one with an unpleasant, suffocating impression. It would be best to install a few floating shelves in your kitchen where you can keep your spices, cups and a few colorful plates for decoration. Don’t give in to the urge to hoard useless things as this will create a sense of chaos and lack of organization even in the most exemplary home.

Countless Kitchen Accessories

We can’t help but admit kitchen accessories and decoration have a charm of their own, but there is (or at least there should be) a limit to everything. If the shelves in your kitchen are stacked with piles of stuff that don’t necessarily belong there, it is time for some drastic measures. Feel free to leave some of your favorite decorations on the shelves, but remove all the rest to free some space for your condiments, spices and other kitchen essentials. As far as recipe books are concerned, keep at hand only the one you use most frequently and place the remaining ones in your bookcase, where books rightfully belong.

Way too many “Decorations”

Sure, everyone likes to put on display all the memorabilia they’ve collected on trips across the world. But is this really the best course of action? The short answer to this question is no as it is precisely these “decorations” that leave your home cluttered, not to mention turning your living room into the Tate Museum of Modern Art is tacky and distasteful. Remove some of the figurines, candle sticks and vases from your mantel piece and you will soon notice the difference it will make. This will greatly simplify your Sunday dusting routine as you will not have to move tons of items from your shelves and furniture. Besides, who needs ten Maneki Nekos when only one will suffice to bring your home a good fortune?

Paintings and Photographs

Hanging artsy paintings on your walls can lend your home a nice feel but Tenancy Cleaning Canary Wharf advises to be careful not to overdo it. In most cases, these end up collecting dust and that’s that. Hang a few paintings that share a common theme, color scheme or motifs and lose the rest. Also, there is no need to put all your framed photographs on display. Keep the ones which remind you of moments passed you cherish the most and preserve the remaining photographs in a classy photo album. You will be surprised at how clean and well-organized your home will look.

If you manage to stick to these five decorating rules we have suggested, soon you will find your home looks much cleaner and organized. Without question, the greatest advantage of keeping decorations to the minimum results from the fact it would be much easier for you to perform your cleaning routine as you will be spared the necessity to remove so many items from your shelves. Thus, you will be able to dust and polish your furniture and shelves with a single swipe instead of spending your entire weekend, armed with a duster in hand.

Submitted and written by: Molly Dennis

Three Ways To Showcase Your Family History

Posted on June 18, 2016 by Jeffrey Scott Thomas

Our families are one of the primary reasons we feel the need to get out of bed every day. While we all tend to fight, argue and disagree, there is always a special bond and love that will carry through the generations.

Many of us may have a family tree tucked away in a box in a dusty attic or created a genealogy tree online. It is time to bring that family tree to the forefront of your decorating. No longer do you have to keep your family roots hidden in a corner of the attic. Yes, that even includes bringing creepy Uncle Edgar out for everyone to see.

Here are three ways to bring your family history to life with beautiful wall art decor.

Family Vinyl Wall Decal

Perhaps one of the easiest ways to begin your decorating journey is with a family vinyl wall decal. These vinyl decals are perfect for those who are not quite confident with their art or decorating skills. One of the best types of decals for a project like this is a tree.

The decals are easy to place on the wall. Simply peel off the backing and place the tree on the wall, smoothing until you are satisfied that all the air bubbles have been removed. Once the tree has been placed on the wall, you can begin placing your family history. One of the easiest ways to do this is by printing out small pictures and placing them in either matching or eclectic frames and hanging them from the branches.

Creating a Gorgeous Mural

Another option is to create a mural as big as you need. Keeping in line with the above vinyl wall art tree, you can easily paint a tree that is designed for your family. This tree can grow as large or as small as you desire.

Keep in mind you do not have to be the perfect artist for a project like this. Take a few moments sketching some trees in a pad until you have a design you are happy with. Make sure to get the whole family involved in the drawing or painting aspect. Once the tree has dried on your living room wall, you can accent it with words or phrases created with vinyl wall art, and it is once again time to add the family photographs to the wall. To make this project a little easier, it is fine to not paint individual leaves on the tree. You may find that drawing and painting branches is a much easier process!

Simple Family Tree Lettering

If the thought of placing a giant literal family tree is not exactly to your liking, you can still create a similar concept with a series of pictures of your family history. One of the easiest ways to create a photographic family tree is by creating three rows of pictures and fill the wall from top to bottom. You can use vinyl letters at the top of the tree to denote “The Jones Family” if you desire.

Using Furniture and Antiques

While vinyl art is perhaps the easiest way to create a living family tree in your home, it is not the only way. It is always possible to use existing furniture already found within your home. Perhaps you have a set of shelves or a china cabinet that is gathering dust in the home. It can be refurbished as a home to place all of your family members from the past and present. Use the top shelves for the founding members of your family and the lower rows for parents, children and grandchildren.

In addition, this is an excellent way to showcase special mementos and memories of people from your family who have passed on. Perhaps you have your grandfather’s favorite pipe or an aunt’s necklace, place it next to the photograph. This allows you to visit and share special memories every day.

The key takeaway from creating a family tree art project is to simply use your own creativity and imagination. This is a perfect way to showcase the family you love and are proud of.

About the Author

Aric Shelby personally designs high-quality vinyl wall art for use in homes and commercial spaces. With a wide selection of designs at a variety of price points, it’s easy for consumers to find exactly the style they need to make their spaces look spectacular when searching Aric’s designs. View them all at vinylcraze.com.

Create The Right Look For Your Kids’ Room Without Spending A Fortune

Posted on April 9, 2016 by jasonphillips2109

It is always difficult to choose a design for your child’s room. Even asking them to assist in choosing can make it more difficult as many if their ideas are not practical or affordable! Children change so quickly that the room will almost be outdated as soon as it is finished! To create the right look, without spending a fortune follow these tips:

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Mix & Match

Children do not necessarily need their favorite cartoon character on the wall; they are usually more than happy with bright and possibly crazy colors. Give your child’s room a fun feel by adding streaks of color across the wall in paint or via the wallpaper. Add a basketball net to really keep the fun atmosphere!

Fun Furniture

Rather than having specific theme based furniture opt for something that is practical and will last for years. A simple table with pencil style legs and a bright color will create just the right effect for any child. Even the stools or the chairs for the table can be brightened by adding decals; these can also be removed and replaced as they grow. An extra novel touch which will add a fun element and help to keep noise down is to add socks to the bottom of movable furniture.

Patterns

All items of furniture can be brightened by being painted a nice bright color. They can also have decals or even artwork painted onto them to create a stunning, visually pleasing and unique piece. This will have a special significance to your child and stay with them for years!

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Pallets

Recycling old pallets is becoming exceptionally popular. They can be used to create beds, settees or simply head rests. They are relatively easy to take apart and can be sanded and painted if required. This makes them perfect as affordable furniture which can be adapted to your child’s needs as they grow.

Grown Up Bed

A metal frame bed can be ornate and give the appearance of a bed fit for a princess or an adult’s bed. This makes it perfect for your child’s bedroom; it will literally grow with them and can be adapted to fit any theme. You can even decorate the bed with personal touches to match the room.

Old cars

Old cars or other old toys can make excellent coat hooks and add a real touch of style to a room! Your child probably has too many toys and will not mind a few of their unused items going on the wall. This type of style can last for many years.

The Alphabet

Young children will like the look and feel of letters being o their walls, especially if they are raised off the wall and they can touch and feel them. You can also create a chalkboard wall which will allow them to create their own artwork; which can change as they age. If you do choose this option be sure that your child knows to only draw on that space, not all the walls!

Art work

Instead of random but visually appealing pieces of art, take some of your child’s favorite photos and have them blown up. These can then be added to the wall to create a stunning visual reminder of a specific occasion. If possible split a photo into three images to create an even better look.

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Space

Always arrange the room so that they have space to move around. Their bed should have its own area and a desk can take a different corner. The central space should remain free for them to move around and either play or relax in. If the kids have small rooms and it’s difficult for them to stay organized, invest in custom furniture pieces with lots of storage spaces. Stools, open shelves and beds with hidden compartments are excellent ideas.

Comfort

When decorating a room it’s very important to make it feel comfortable too, not just look nice. Blankets, covers and cushions are a must-have. You want the kids to sleep well, and at the same time enjoy spending time in their room. Throw pillows are a nice tough too, because they make a space appear really cozy and inviting.

There is no limit to what is possible, simply look around you and take inspiration from everyday items! Ask for your kids’ opinion before doing anything. They might have a particular preference for the paint on the walls, or furniture. Talk to them and find a way to reach mutual ground. This way their room will fabulous without you having to invest a fortune in the design.