Expecting a baby can easily bring on a wide range of emotions, including the obvious…happiness. But let’s be honest for a minute, it can also bring on some anxiety because it will most definitely change your life, but I think I can speak for the majority of parents here in saying the change is well worth it. However, new parents-to-be might also feel a little anxious about finances, because kids do come with a price tag that seems to grow as they do. Not to scare you or anything, but it is reality. If you are a little apprehensive about finances right now, or simply prefer to put more money into their college fund (never too early to start), the tips I am about to share will help ease your mind.

A nursery doesn’t have to cost a million dollars to look and feel like it. Read on to learn how to create a safe, functional, and beautiful nursery for your future bundle of joy.

Skimp on Cost Not Safety

While it’s a great idea to save money on big ticket items, it’s obviously nobody’s intent to forgo safety when it comes to our little ones. The best advice I think I can give you would be to first look at safety guidelines for baby furniture before you even shop for style and design. You can do this by searching online.

Once you know what to look for, such as slats in the crib to be no further apart than 2 3/8 inches, then you can consider the appearance of the pieces. Check out clearance centers at your local stores and online for deals. A great piece of nursery furniture can be safe for your child, look great, and yet not cost a fortune.

You can save money on pieces that you won’t be placing the baby in or on, such as the dresser or armoire. However, make it safe by using wall anchors; these will attach the piece to the wall so it won’t topple over onto the child when they are pulling themselves up on everything.

Secondhand as an Option

You might want to consider buying secondhand furniture. If someone has furniture they want to give you, even on a loan, take advantage of it. If you don’t have to give the furniture back, you can do some wonderful things with secondhand pieces. I will talk about that in a bit. Take a look at the newspaper ads, Craigslist, eBay, and even garage sales. In fact, just as anything else, sometimes the other the piece is, the more valuable it is, even when it comes to safety.

Decorating on a Dime

Perhaps the most fun of creating a nursery is adding the personality, or decorating with color and character. You will want to decide if you want to go with a theme and full-blown decor such as a princess theme with Disney princess wall murals, or transportation theme with planes, trains, and automobiles, or something more sedate like a simple color theme.

Whatever you decide, you can cut costs with the following tips:

• Framed photos. You can buy inexpensive frames and fill them with low or no-cost photos you can get online at royalty free image sites. You could also take your own photos or draw something to frame. Wall art does not have to cost a fortune. We had brightly colored walls in yellow, so I found some great black and white photos of babies and toddlers. The contrast was fun and it was inexpensive and easy.
• Paint used furniture. Take a piece of used furniture, clean it up, and paint it a fun and bright color. By painting the dresser a colorful hue, it will become a piece of art. Or, leave the natural wood as the base and paint each drawer a different color.
• Throw rugs. Use inexpensive and colorful throw rugs, rather than replacing old flooring. Just one or two can add a lot of character to a room.
• Stenciling. If you want more pizazz in the room than paint has to offer, try some stenciling. You could stencil characters or a nice quote such as a familar and great one from Dr. Seuss, “A person’s a person, no matter how small.”
• Removable decals. Decals that can be easily removed can add a great deal of color and fun to any wall. If you take care of them and remove them carefully, they can be reused or sold in a garage sale.

I just loved adding all the punches of color and personality, and I did it for a lot less than I had budgeted in the first place. One small thing that I did was to change out the plain knobs on the dresser and armoire to colorful ducks, to go with the duck theme we had. It seems minor, but it adds some fun to the room without a lot of cost.

The best thing you can do is to take your time and do some research. I know it’s tempting to do it all right away, but you have time. A little research and shopping can lead to a beautiful and safe place for your baby to lay their head.

This is a guest post by Kathy Barber, who drew inspiration for a series of articles on kid’s rooms from researching Disney Cars wall mural and art for her son’s room. Living in Michigan with her husband and son, she enjoys traveling, photography, cooking, and anything to do with mystery.

Photo by hadzik

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The number one lesson I have learned from my intensive television-watching research is that creating an appealing, eye-catching, and beautiful space in your home is all in the little things. Decor matters a whole lot more than the design of a particular space, and you can take virtually any space and turn it into a room you never want to leave just by focusing on the small details that ultimately will make all the difference. This lesson most definitely also applies to the bathroom.

The bathroom is one room that can often get neglected. Furnishing and decorating other rooms in the house can easily take priority over the bathroom, and you probably don’t spend all that much time in there anyway, so for many people it often comes down to not seeing the point in spending time and resources decorating a room you are in for maybe 30 minutes a day. But imagine this: you have had an exhausting day and are physically and emotionally drained by the end of it. Finally, the house is quiet, life has settled down for the night, and you practically sprint to your warm and inviting bathroom that has an atmosphere that completely relaxes you, and you run yourself a hot bubble bath to soak in. You can have that, and it can be created with surprisingly little effort, starting with choosing the perfect bathroom ceiling lighting.

Whether you go traditional or modern, choose a large statement overhead piece, balanced sconces, or even opt for an eye-catching chandelier, the lighting you choose for your bathroom can set the entire feel of the room. I am a big fan of an overhead light in the center of the room with additional vanity lighting around the bathroom mirror. Having a flush-mount or semi-flush mounted ceiling light is a great source of lighting in the bathroom all on its own, and it will evenly distribute throughout the room without leaving dark spots. This is great for the bulk of your bathroom lighting needs, but you’ll be happy you chose vanity lighting when it comes time to do your hair and makeup, and if there’s a guy in your family, they’ll love that added lighting when they need to shave in the morning. Depending on the size of your bathroom, you can choose between two-light, three-light, or four-light vanity fixtures for above your bathroom mirror. If you’re choosing lighting for a guest bathroom, you can even use vanity lighting on its own without an overhead light fixture to give the small space a classy and relaxing feel.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Bathroom Lighting Outlet. Incentive was provided to me, and opinions are my own.

Photo via klove427

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The first time we walked through this house, the second of only four houses we looked at before buying this one, I fell in love with this kitchen. I love everything about it–the dark wood floors against the light wood cabinets, the counter tops and back splash and how clean it looks below the burst of color in the minty green walls, the huge set of three windows along the back wall that let plenty of natural light in everyday, and the updated stainless steel appliances didn’t hurt, either.

This set of photos gives you a complete tour of the kitchen, which has remained my favorite room in the entire house, so it’s no surprise that I also work in here, which I also wrote about the other day for Photo a Day May: Something You Do Everyday.

If you want to join in, check out the May Photo a Day Challenge List.

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Since moving into our house in February, my grandmother has little by little been giving me small decor items to help transition our house into a cozy and comfortable home.

I have never really decorated a living space beyond the necessities. I have never been concerned with hanging pictures or incorporating art into a room because throughout my entire adult life, I have always lived in apartments and I have always regarded those apartments as temporary. Basically, my mindset was ‘What’s the point if we’re just going to pick up and move again?’ Now we know that we won’t be moving again, so getting our house decorating and exemplifying everything a home should be is really important to me.

These two wooden birds are really cool on their own, but they have a story that makes them mean a lot more to me than just being neat pieces of art. They were both handmade and painted by my father when he was young. My grandmother has kept them for many years, and when she recently found them in her attic, she gave them to me. The green bird has held up a lot better through the years than the red, which is weathered and chipped, but its integrity is still very much intact. The chains hanging from their mouths hold a decorative cup that holds a small plant. They aren’t put up yet, and when they are I will definitely take more photos and post them, but I plan to put them on either side of the threshold between my living and dining rooms.

Handmade and handed-down has become the overall theme of our home, which I love. I have a deep appreciation for items with a history, and the way things are looking, I will definitely have an abundance of stories from the items that come together in my home.

If you want to join in, check out the May Photo a Day Challenge List.

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With a few simple but well-worked details you can lighten up the room, give it a great lift, and make it a room that your child will love. You will be proud to have this creative masterpiece as part of your home, and your little one won’t be able to get enough of their new little home. That’s what we call a true win-win in parenting!

1. Find a theme that you can execute well.

   The key to not only decorating a child’s room, but to transitioning it from a nursery, is to find the right theme. Let your child help with picking a theme that they like and guide them towards something that they have a better chance of sticking with for the long haul.

   A perfect example is princesses, and a great way to bring in creativity and theme-centered details is through Disney princess giant wall stickers. Here’s the best part–your child will love it as it keeps within their theme and you will love it as it shows creativity in a very organized manner. You can’t go wrong if you pick a theme that is classic and bound to be around for a long time. Then the room sort of takes on a shape all its own!

2. Think of every detail.

   Once you have selected the theme, then you should incorporate every little detail. That’s not to say that you need to have all princesses or cars from ceiling to floor, but you should use the theme as a centerpiece.

   Incorporate every single detail in the theme, associated colors, or elements from this idea so that the room is decked out. Find light fixtures, table lamps, pieces of furniture, toy bins, sheets, and other elements of the bedroom in the right color or theme. Use a pillow with a featured character if possible.

   Try to find a wall hanging and even curtains that blend in well with the theme or colors. The point here is that for true creativity, you want to think through every little detail and then tie it in as eloquently as possible. It really does work!

3. Let your child help with the decorations–literally.

   Though you may be hesitant to do this elsewhere, their bedroom is the perfect place. If you are going with a color scheme, then let your little Picasso paint a perfectly colored portrait to frame and hang on the walls.

   If you are really adventurous and want that perfect touch, then let them paint something special on the wall. They can even get in on in the painting if you are putting up new colors; just be sure to give them a little direction.

   Allowing them to get involved and to add a fun little elements of their own creativity can really help to spin the room in the best possible light. This is a time to embrace that little artist and they can help to bring the room to light.

4. Celebrate this milestone with one special centerpiece.

   Talk with your child and let them get involved in picking out one special centerpiece for the room. Perhaps it’s a special car toddler bed or a pale pink princess dresser that is the focal point of the room. Perhaps they just want a ballerina statue or a pirate piggy bank. Let them have a say in this and then tie it into the room appropriately. This can really allow them to get excited and to utilize their creativity. Then when you look at the room, this piece that they selected with your help will become a true focal point.

No matter what type of theme or colors you are going with, you can always find a way to be creative. This is a fun time for your child, so work with them and come up with some creative and fun ideas together. This is how you mark this special occasion in their little life!

Photo by Kids Decal Corner

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Gift Card Granny is a discount gift card shopping search engine that connects buyers and sellers of discount gift cards. Just search for a gift card by merchant or category and Gift Card Granny will return a list of the best offers out there for you to choose from. It really is an amazingly easy way to save literally hundreds of dollars a month, and what could be better than that?

We’re big fans of Gift Card Granny and have mentioned them and the deals to be had before. Luckily, the feeling seems to be mutual because Gift Card Granny is giving one lucky Woman Tribune reader a $75 gift card to Pottery Barn!

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Do one or all of the following things to enter to win the $75 Pottery Barn gift card from Gift Card Granny. Leave a separate comment for each additional entry and be sure to include your username for Twitter and Facebook entries if applicable.

• Create a gift card alert at Gift Card Granny and tell us which merchant you chose to receive alerts about.
  Gift card alerts will email you either immediately or daily when there are newly added gift cards available for your favorite stores.
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  Win a $75 Pottery Barn gift card from @GiftCardGranny at @WomanTribune http://shar.es/HLA4c #giveaway ends 10/4

This giveaway ends Monday, October 4th at 11:59 p.m. ET. This giveaway is open to anyone over the age of 18 at the time of entry. The winner will be randomly chosen and contacted by email; they then have 48 hours (2 days) to respond to that email or another winner will be chosen.

Full Contest Disclaimer

This giveaway is now closed and the winner is…

Congratulations!

Disclosure: Gift Card Granny has provided one $75 gift card to Pottery Barn for this giveaway.

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I would love to see a larger picture of this entire space, but the window seat is spectacular. I love that it extends out to the sides filling the entire nook with seating in front of the large bay windows.

I really love this idea for a window seat at the landing of a staircase between floors. It’s like a little surprise you didn’t expect to see when walking upstairs. A great idea for a space that is typically pretty difficult to decorate with an actual purpose in mind.

This playroom makes me happy. The striped walls, the complimentary pillows and window seat cushion all playing off of the colors in the walls, and especially the pocket areas beneath the window seat. The bins for loose items are really smart considering kids aren’t organized, so the bins make clean-up super quick and the room looks organized even if you know it really isn’t.

This is just several different layers of awesome. A window seat-bed with a trundle bed underneath. Space-saving and monstrously cute!

Another playroom window seat, this one centered between two built-in bookshelves, which I also love! Built-in bookshelves are another thing I lust after when it comes to interior design.

Let’s face it, built-in window seats are stunning, but not everyone can just build a window seat into the room of their choice (but wouldn’t it be awesome if we all could?) That is why I love this one so much; it’s the non-window seat window seat. It makes window seats possible where there was no possibility before. Just by topping a strong and sturdy trunk with a comfy cushion and a few throw pillows you can create a beautiful space in front of any window in the house.

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For the first week since October, it has not snowed here and there is very, very little snow on the ground outside. Since March 20th marked the official first day of spring, It won’t be too long now before a lot of us will be adding new, fresh touches to our patios, decks and other outdoor spaces, or completely renovating our outdoor spaces to reflect our moods and tastes this season.

 Pier 1 has a fantastic selection of outdoor furniture and decor items including rugs, pillows, cushions, umbrellas, lighting and more. After looking through their extensive collection of outdoor items, I immediately latched onto their Coco Cove line of outdoor furniture.

Outdoor Swivel Chair | Outdoor Wicker Armchair | Outdoor Wicker End Table

Remember, if you plan on buying new outdoor furniture, you’re going to also want to pick yourself up some comfy new cushions and pillows to go with!

If the Coco Cove style isn’t really for you, or if you’re looking for a really comfy chair for your outdoor space, Pier 1 has evolved their iconic Papasan chair. Not only can you find the traditional Papasans and cushions, but you will also find double Papasans and Swingasans. It is definitely time to start thinking outside of the box in terms of decorating your outdoor spaces and Pier 1 is helping you do just that!

While we’re talking about outdoor furniture and decor, keep in mind that a great deal of Pier 1′s stock is actually indoor/outdoor, so if you’re investing in new wicker furniture for your outdoor space, don’t think you’re spending too much for something that will have to be brought in and kept in storage during the winter months. If you have a sunroom or foyer, get creative and decorate these spaces with furniture and decor items you had originally bought for outdoor use. That especially goes for this awesome outdoor floor lantern I found on the Pier 1 website that would look amazing indoors as well!

During the holiday season, IZEA hosted a Tweetup for Pier 1. This event was such a rousing success that they are doing it again, hosting Pier 1 Tweetups in several select U.S. cities. Take a look and see if there is a tweetup near you and join in on the fun!

Atlanta – April 5th:
6551 North Point Parkway
Alpharetta, GA 30022
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

3101 Cobb Parkway
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30339
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

NYC – April 20th
51 Fifth Avenue
New York, NY 10003
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

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Diane von Furstenberg’s Home Collection is debuting at Bloomingdale’s and consists of bedding, pillows, duvets, throws and dinnerware. These pieces feature eye-catching colors and risk-taking prints and each item is available in a wide selection of different colors to choose from. Just at first glance, the “Urban Jungle” bedding (pictured left) caught my eye and is priced at $80 – $335.00.

Check out the entire collection and you’re sure to find a few things you won’t be able to take your eyes off of.

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Every year I notice the same thing around my house; after some very deep cleaning that is always done around the holidays and kept up for a good month after we ring in the new year, by the time February rolls around and we’re hit by multiple snow storms here in Pennsylvania, my house just kind of gets trashed, honestly. Belongings are no longer tucked away nicely in their places, dust has started to accumulate and because my partner and I always wind up rearranging at least two of our rooms a year and that urge always strikes us right after Christmas, those newly-rearranged rooms are already starting to look old and not as exciting as they were just a month before.

I was recently made aware of a sale going on right now at Family Dollar and I’m really glad to have the opportunity to share it with all of you. If you saw a tweet I put out a few hours ago you may already know just a little bit about this sale, so let me expand upon it a little further because really, you’ll want to get all the facts about this sale–it’s a great way to save an abundance of money!

Family Dollar is all but begging you to spruce up your bedroom, bath and/or living spaces with their astoundingly low prices on comforter sets, bath towels and decor items, all launched under their own brand of interior decor, Interiors by Design.
 

For the Bedroom

Interiors by Design comforter sets look great and their 4-piece queen comforter sets are just $38 and their king comforter sets are just $40. With their sets you’ll receive a soft, plush comforter, bed skirt and two matching pillow shams.

Window panels are just $10 a panel and they also have really cute wall accessories, like a starburst mirror that is just $10 and vases that match their comforter sets and decor amazingly, starting at just $6.
 

For the Bath

Interiors by Design have a great collection of durable shower curtains, fabric covered show rings, ceramic toothbrush golders, tumblers and soap dishes. Their matching bath sets include a wastebasket, tumbler, toothbrush holder and soap dish for–get this–just $5.

Matching bath towels are also just $5, hand towels are $3 and washcloths are $2.
 

For the Living Room

Family Dollar’s Interiors by Design lamps are really stylish and colorful, sure to compliment your existing living room color scheme and feel; plus they start at just $6. Mini blinds start at just $3.50 and you can bring your entire room together with fabulous rugs that are between $5 and $10.

By shopping to spruce up your living spaces with Family Dollar, you won’t just receive these phenomenal prices; from now until January 7th you can also get the Family Dollar Home Décor Coupon and save $5 on any purchase of $25 or more.

I see a productive weekend of sprucing up ahead of you.

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If a lamp is too tall, you’ll need a sun visor in bed, and when you’re just beginning to nod off, you’ll have to sit up and struggle over to the light switch to turn it out, reawakening. If it’s too short, you won’t be able to see a thing; not to mention there is then scale and function. It can all be so confusing.

Here’s our MyDesignGuide rule of thumb for selecting bedside lamps with Dos and Don’ts that make it easy.

These lamps are lovely, but a bit too tall.

The bedside lamp switch should be from 21 to 30 inches high, approximately equal to your arm length so that you can easily reach it to turn it off. You might combine a taller lamp and shorter table or the reverse, either way works, but the switch height is key.

Don’t: Thes elamps are gorgeous, as is the bedroom design, but the lamps are too large for the tiny bedside tables. Whether it’s for your bedroom or guests, select lamps that are the right size for the table they sit on. A good rule of thumb is that lamps should be 1/3 the size of the table.

Do: Notice that the side tables are lower than the bed. While the lamps are on the taller side, they work due to the lower bedside table. Just right for light and reach!

Do: These are just right, too. Table is a bit higher, the lamp is a bit shorter, but still at arms length.

Do: If you have a very small space beside the bed, consider hanging a chandelier from the ceiling. It should hang at approximately 26 inches above the bed and is a great way to free up table space. If you want a very custom look, install a switch for each chandelier by the bed, or for a less expensive option, swag the chord over and run it down the wall (don’t forget the chord cover!) so that you can turn them off at bedside.

Do: Use a floor lamp as a bedside lamp. Again, great for small spaces and it eliminates the sometimes ‘matchy matchy’ look we get in our bedrooms.

What about swing arm lamps on the wall? DO, just keep the 26 inch height in mind. Great for small spaces and to keep the bedside tabletop uncluttered; or you don’t need to have a bedside table at all.

Don’t: We see a lot of very small bedside lamps in homes. Remember, your bed, no matter what size, is a large object. It needs lamps and other objects of larger scale in the room to give the room balance. Also, you need enough light to reach the bed, not just the top of the side table.

Looking for some of these great lamps? Look no further:

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When we finally got all of my stuff moved into the office–computer, although now I have an awesome laptop instead of a huge desktop setup–my bookshelf, more books than my bookshelf can handle, work papers, knickknacks, and a futon that has become the cats’ favorite place to chill out and sleep for hours on end, I lit a new candle I received a week or so ago in order to get the room smelling all nice and friendly, and like a space I actually wanted to spend time in. I’m a very scent-oriented person. Scents, to me, can determine my overall mood on most occasions. So I lit a candle I had received from sanlori.com, a shop that sells an assortment of fun candles, gifts, invitations, and more.

I received an 8oz. poured glass candle in the scent ‘Cosmo Compatible’, a mix of cranberry and citrus liqueur that was created with the essence of a cosmopolitan cocktail in mind. It is very welcoming and in a matter of just minutes, I walked back into my office and wanted to stay there, due very much in part to the sweet and pleasing scent the room had. In fact, I had this candle lit so often that in just a matter of a few days, the candle is almost gone.

Having the opportunity to receive and experience one of their candles for myself has really made me excited about what SanLori stocks. Their website, products, and even the packaging of their products screams “Fun!” My ‘Cosmo Compatible’ candle came packaged in a small box that fit the candle perfectly. The entire box is decorated in a yellow swirled design with more apparent hot pink swirls around the frame of the product inside that you could clearly see. Two “hot chicks”, as in small, quirky and decorated chickens, are on either side and the entire box was topped with a pink feathery poof. That did not stay on my box for very long since as soon as my cats saw it, they swiftly tore it off the box and have been playing with it ever since.

If you like the look of SanLori products, consider following on them on Facebook or on Twitter @sanlori to find out about other upcoming products, promotions and more. You can also check out their blog.

Disclosure: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commissions 16 CFR, Part 255 Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising. Tomoson Product review & giveaway Disclosure.

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Sure, while the scenario I’ve just laid out for you all may be a bit of an exaggeration (for some), while I was browsing through the Land of Nod website, I stumbled upon a selection of arts and crafts clips. These clips make it incredibly easy to hang up artwork on living room walls, in archways and doorways, down the walls of staircases, and even hallways; when given to that certain, super artsy person, some amazingly stylish and fun things could be done.

The holiday peppermint art clips (pictured above) are perfect for holiday decorating and holiday masterpieces. The clips are handmade and each pack of colorful art clips comes complete with string, a plastic keyhole for easy hanging and eight clothespin hangers; they are $12.95 and good news, free shipping is available!

For your non-holiday art displaying needs, check out Land of Nod’s hanging wall clips (pictured above) that come in a variety of different, fun styles, including birds, flowers, hearts and stars.

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Mardee wanted a neutral background because they might be moving not too long from now, but loved modern style and wanted some fun and pops of color in the room.

We turned this cute little frog into two modern princes; a space for entertaining and dining and sharing (very stylish) time with family.

Check out the entire before and after here.

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Now that Thanksgiving has come and gone, it is officially not too early to begin decorating for the holidays! That’s part of what makes the holidays so much fun after all; getting into the holiday spirit, decorating the house to make it look as festive as you feel, and a whole lot of holiday entertaining.

When it comes to holiday decor of all styles, and types, very few stores beat Pier 1 when it comes to seasonal spirit. They have a little bit of everything from tabletop decor and table settings to candles, ornaments, wreaths, and more. Everything you need to deck your home out in holiday cheer. I was recently given the opportunity to do a bit of shopping at Pier 1 to pick up some must-have holiday decor items.

Admittedly, I have not always decorated for the holidays. There were a few years there where you would find nary a holiday-themed coffee mug. I was just simply not interested. Last year, however, something happened that made me absolutely, positively need to do a whole lot of holiday decorating; so I went to a few stores and picked up a few items to transform our living quarters into a festive wonderland of excitement. Needless to say, I was pretty psyched to be able to pick up a few more holiday-themed items for my decorating this year.

Honestly, the selection at Pier 1 is massive. I was actually a little overwhelmed with their selection while I was shopping. As soon as I found something great, I found about ten other things that required a closer look. After 45 minutes of shopping time, I’m pretty happy with what I left Pier 1 with.

(holiday mini reed diffusers | green ceramic Christmas tree tealight holder | reindeer door draft stopper | frog ornament)

I am a huge fan of candles and fragrances; they just make the house feel super cozy, so I was really glad that I was able to find a fantastic tealight holder that isn’t over the top, but just really chic and still holiday-themed. Also, if you have a Pier 1 Imports store near you, you absolutely must go and pick up a holiday mini reed diffuser because they are fabulous! They are small, but they fill an entire room with a really subtle and pleasant scent. At just $5 a piece, I got a vanilla reed diffuser that has a small snowflake adorned on one reed, and also a gingerbread with a small gingerbread man on one of the reeds. They are really great buys either for yourself or as a small gift; think Secret Santa gifts!

When you live in a northern state where temperatures are already hitting the high 20′s, you just may not survive the winter without a door draft stopper and the little reindeer guy is super cute! Lastly, is that frog ornament not one of the most unique ornaments you’ve ever seen? His arms and legs dangle and as soon as I saw him, I knew I wasn’t leaving the store without him.

So that’s what I picked up for my holiday decorating. Take a look at the Pier 1 website where you can find some really good deals on seasonal decor.

Pier 1 is also doing their part to give back this holiday season and are encouraging you to help them out! During the months of November and December, help Pier 1 support Toys for Tots by dropping off an unwrapped toy, or you can make a cash donation at the register. Also, be sure to become a fan on Facebook. For every new fan they get, they are donating $1 to Toys for Tots.

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She never could get it to look quite right and being a lawyer, she certainly didn’t have the time to work on it.

So, we did our My Design Guide magic and for only $169 we created the office space of her dreams using a lot of her own furniture.

Here’s a peek at the design:

Recognize that desk and the great black and white Audrey Hepburn picture? Take a look at the complete My Design Guide design here.

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This family room is 26×14–HUMONGOUS but narrow! We see this a lot, the long and narrow, so immediately we are thinking multi-function. Not only can this room support a primary seating and conversation area, but also a couple of other functions that suit the family.

Before the holidays arrive, can we help you with your family room too?

Click to see this multi-purpose family room before and after.

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This awesome sustainable wood vase is brought to you by Seth Rolland, a woodworker who makes custom furniture and accessories like tables, chairs, vases, and more. His Lotus contemporary wood vase is perfect for Halloween, with its uncanny pumpkin resemblance and would look amazing amidst your other fall decorations. The Lotus vase stands at 7 inches high and is 6.5 inches in diameter.

Each vase is made from a single piece of wood, cut in an accordion pattern and bent into a circle with a 1″ diameter test tube in the center. The interplay of light and shadow between the fins accentuates the forms.

Lotus is made from FSC certified sustainably harvested ash lumber and finished with a completely non toxic linseed oil based finish. Signed on the bottom.

There are only 2 in stock at $115.

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The best accent for your white bathroom is greenery. Include a plant (we love succulents, they are so architectural–although they need light, and nothing’s better than an orchid) in your bathroom to add a splash of color without distracting from the overall feel of cleanliness. These are just the right touches to keep things from feeling too clinical. The natural accents in the above bathroom also brings a touch of the outdoors, without the dirt! Jute, rattan and sisal are great natural fibers that are often made into baskets, rugs, even tables and chairs! Some of those products are also eco-friendly, something we can all appreciate.

This bathroom has more of an industrial feel to it, due to the exposed plumbing, but it is still right in white.

While some of us may be in the process of remodeling and can build our bathrooms from scratch, most of us just have to deal with what’s already there. In most cases, all that’s needed to create your own white bathroom is a coat of paint (and maybe a new shower curtain.) Most plumbing fixtures are already white, so it’s practically a head start on decorating! Also, when everything is in white, it makes those items blend in with the whole feel, rather than making them stand out.

Note the variety of design styles and how they work together due to the white color palate.

Lotions, soaps and other bathroom supplies often come in decent packaging, but unless it’s simple and coordinated, we suggest getting your own containers so that all your assorted goods are in white or clear containers. While you can probably find a set of these items, we recommend picking different styles and combining them for a more eclectic and professionally-designed feel.

The variation of tiles helps to break up the white and creates a great traditional feel.

If you are going to retile your bathrooms, consider carrara marble. It comes in the most beautiful white varieties and the price has gotten much more reasonable in recent years. But be careful, it can be slippery when used in larger slabs. Great for glamor, but perhaps not for kids or dogs. Tile resurfacing is also affordable and works great as well.

Time for a budget-friendly bathroom update in your style The My Design Guide Bathroom Design is only $49 and includes all of the product selections you’ll need.

Here are some of our My Design Guide faves for your white bath.

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Chandeliers are not just for the dining room, but to achieve real elegance, they’ve gotta be:

• The right finish and style needed to match your Stylefinder style.
• The right scale (size for the room).
• The right function–giving off the proper amount of light.

Depending on your Stylefinder profile, these are some examples.

Traditional

Romantic

Country

Modern

MyD Rule of Thumb for Buying and Hanging Chandeliers:

Dining Room:
A chandelier should be hung approximately 30 inches from the table so that you have appropriate clearance for dinner conversation and being able to “pass the peas.” This distance is based off an 8-foot high ceiling. Every additional foot of the ceiling means raising the chandelier a few inches.

About.com recommends that the dining room chandelier be 12 inches in width smaller than the table, giving you the right proportion and says:

• If the room is smaller than 10′ x 10′ a 17″ to 20″ diameter chandelier is the right size.
• If the room is about 12′ x 12′ a 26″ or 27″.
• If the room is about 14′ x 14′ choose one that is from 24″ to 26″ wide.

Bedroom:
This is a fresh use for this fixture–gone by the wayside are the ceiling fans–for a romantic big bang, use a chandelier over your bed.

Bathroom:
Yes! Especially if you have one of those tall/small half bathrooms like many of us do. A chandelier helps lower the ceiling and is gorgeous reflecting its sparkle in the mirror. I got this one at an antique store and put it in my “French Bathroom”.

As always, this chandelier was affordable–$75.

Family Room/Living Room:
I’m not such a fan of a chandelier in the family room or living room because these rooms are usually more casual, so a ceiling fan is often a good solution–providing real function and air flow. Unless the room is very small, the chandelier tends to look like a tiny little spider crawling down from the ceiling spinning its web–i.e.: NOT the right scale. If used in a larger room, install it as a focal point for a portion of the room, such as a seperate sitting, reading, or bar area.

Multiple Chandeliers:
Yes, do it! Especially in a dining room. Consider one above each bedroom table especially in a small room, to make extra space on the table. How about this one from Target for a girl’s room?

This chandelier is easy to install because it’s corded; just don’t forget the cord cover!

Want the right lighting for your room?

A My Design Guide Art and Accessory Service includes the art, accessories and lighting that will meet your Stylefinder style and your lifestyle.

MyD Dont’s

More often than not, a chandelier should be chunky. I know, that’s not very helpful. We don’t want our home to look like Liberace’s, but a chandelier is intended to be a focal point–to draw attention and Wow the viewer, so go a little larger!

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This family’s Stylefinder palette choice is bold jewel tones and their Stylefinder Style is mostly Traditional. Perfect for this bedroom with honey-toned hardwood floors.

They wanted a classic pink and lime green palette. While this palette may have originated in Palm Beach — we do it As, Always, Affordable. My Design Guide style selecting Candy Lime from True Value Hardware paints. Need help with a paint selection? Only $39.

This bed from Target made Megan (and Mom) giddy. Keep in mind that white furniture is also easy to create from thrift store finds. My Design Guide Must for this room: Keeping the furniture scale small to fit the rooms size and mostly Traditional in style.

The bedding (we always give you options) really sets the tone of the room. The quilting keeps it traditional, like the furniture and the bed, but the color keeps it kid-friendly and playful.

The important thing in a child’s bedroom, and in most rooms, is to not be afraid of adding personal touches, like these wall shelves and graphic area rug. Those items will make any space feel cozy and comfortable, as well as marking the space as uniquely yours.

Lovely Lighting. A chandelier and your choice of adorable, affordable bedside lamps makes this room complete. (Yes, youv’e seen our favorite chandelier from Target before — it works!) The Takayam table lamp (#2) is a little more modern, but the right size, scale and color — making the overall design look a bitch more rich. Anyone can go out and buy a room full of matchy-matchy furniture, our Custom Room Designs use the unique!

Drum Roll Please…

Do you love it? While a bed on an angle isn’t always successful, this one works because it helps to get some of that furniture off the walls and interacting with the negative space in the room. The other furniture also is set parallel to the bed, which creates square spaces int he room, adding a structured feel in a playful way.

This room’s playful nature is designed to be a room for a child that serves a function while still creating a place of whimsy and energy any child would love. It has feminine touches in both the decorative headboard and foot board, as well as the color palette. Green and pink are complimentary, and that always keeps a color concept strong. The white furniture allows the wall color and bedding to really stand on their own and minimizes some of the heaviness of the furniture, which helps to make the space feel child-friendly.

Want a room like this of your very own? Let us create it for your Style and Lifestyle with a My Design Guide Custom Room Design.

Have great furnishings but just need those finishing touches? Try our Art and Accessory Design.

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This post is about things you need in your home that will make it look rich, even if we are not…

Stylish Drapes

That doesn’t mean expensive drapes. Stylish drapes have:

• The right pattern and texture needed to match your Stylefinder style
• The right length
• Preferably lined or combined with a shade like our MyDesignGuide hallmark bamboo shade

Depending on your style profile, these are some examples:

How do I know that drapes are the rich finish to any room?

I bought this gorgeous pair from Ballard Design and hung them in our home office. My husband was amazed. According to him, “They make the room look so large and warm and finished.” More importantly, he insisted that we buy new drapes for the bedroom…and now our den!!! Can you believe it? Granted he’s kind of metrosexual — but I’m telling you he is now the Drape King. So what do you need to know to impress your Drape King/Queen?

MyD Rule of Thumb for Hanging Drapes:

Drapes typically come off the shelf in three standard sizes, 54″, 84″ and 96″ — yes, that’s 4.5′, 7′ and 8′ corresponding to 1 foot below most standard ceiling and window heights. Keep that in mind when shopping. The rod should be installed above the window frame unless there is an impediment like this problem I have in my bedroom.

Then, unfortunately, on the window frame it is. The drapes should reach to approximately one inch above the floor.

What about having my drapes puddle on the floor?

That’s fine, but it’s not really the hot trend it used to be and for those of us with kids and pets, those puddles are just dust bunny magnets. If you have a cleaning person or a butler…you go girl!

Want to feel rich every day?
A MyDesignGuide Window Treatment service provides you with 3 unique drapery selections that will meet your Style and your Lifestyle.

Need a DIY Solution
Check out A Soft Place to Land‘s drop cloth drapes. They are drop dead gorgeous!

And Remember, the MyD Dont’s
High water drapes are horrifying!

And you really need to say sayonara to your swags…unless you are decorating an old folks home, banquet room or a super formal home, consider retiring these to the basement. Don’t get me wrong, I did it too, but now we must overcome.

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Check out UGallery.com for just such good stuff.    We love the way you can see the art on your walls and return it if you don’t like – shipping paid….This 8×8 real oil painting by Bart Dluhy is colorful, fun and festive. 

When purchasing a small piece of art like this have a spot in mind that is small, a pit stop where someone will naturally be standing so that they will stop and enjoy it .  By a doorway, a mirror, window,  light switch, small section of wall in a kitchen.  Or, group it with a number of other pieces of art to make a larger composition.  In a larger composition, look for art that is of similar coloring, content or style – combining unique pieces of art into one display is the black diamond of interior design. Have a grouping of art you’d like to share - tell us about it.

Want your MyDesignGuide.com custom Art and Accessory service to include this perfect painting…or something even more like your Style?  It’s simple, affordable and totally you.

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It’s just showing up in our favorite online stores, our My Design Guide custom room designs and Art and Accessories plans.  We all need to introduce just a bit in our home – to keep it fresh.  But, we gotta do it so our house doesn’t look like crazyville.  Too much IKAT and your significant other will ask you to start wearing a belly dancing outfit and riding a camel.
First, What is IKAT?
 Fabricadabra.com  (what an awesome name) offers a great, detailed definition….I just use pictures:

The colors are fantastic, the patterns large and organic (organic? – see below). 

MyDesignGuide Rule of Thumb: 

IKAT is great if your Stylefinder Profile is Traditional, Coastal, Modern, Tuscan or even Rustic. Consider introducing this pattern in pillows covers like these from Fabricadabra.Com

 

MyDesignGuide  – As Always, Affordable. 

Target, Bed Bath and Beyond now offering products in this fabo, fabric.  Everything from breakfast trays to bedding.  Something for everyone.

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I could easily spend days at a time looking through the magnificent creations on Etsy and pretty much everyone I know has admitted to feeling the same way about it. Quite some time ago I was browsing through the website and came across these awesome removable wall decals by designedDESIGNER.

One of the decals I immediately fell in love with was the Birds in the Urban Forest tree decal (pictured above) that consists of six trees, birds and loose leaves. Perhaps it’s the hermit in me that loves this so much; making me think that if it were possible to bring the outdoors inside, well, I could enjoy the best of both worlds without ever having to leave my house. Another favorite is the Flock of Flying Birds decal (pictured to the right.) These decals really start making you think outside of the box when it comes to how to design your space, whether you put them on the walls of your living room, office or bedroom. They are classy, lend your room to a nice modern, minimalist feel and gives your whole space a great amount of unique character. I love these!

designedDESIGNER also makes great decals specifically for nurseries and when it comes to those decals, I can’t make up my mind on which I like the most. They are all so great and will definitely make any nursery fun, happy and inviting.

designedDESIGNER also does custom projects upon request and all of the decals are made of quality vinyl sticker which can last up to 5 years outdoors and a lifetime indoors–until you decide to take it down. A step-by-step guide is also included with your purchase with simple instructions on application and removal and you will also receive a test decal to get acquainted with before you go to apply the one that will be on your wall for some time to come. All of the decals come in a variety of sizes and you can choose your own colors. So go check out designedDESIGNER if you’re shopping around for removable vinyl wall decals.

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