If you are into the Western decorating theme, you can have a lot of fun using it to decorate your kitchen. In fact, you can take one element of the theme and go crazy with it. For instance, one Western decorating idea is to focus on a Western object like some cowboy boots or a cowboy hat. You can even combine elements and use both of them as your central decorating theme.

You can find all types of decor in the Western decorating theme. Try looking for cookie jars or other ceramics that you can sit out on your counter for an interesting effect. Also look for western themed curtains and light switch covers. One fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon is to scour the local antique shops for Western themed decor. You’ll be surprised at the interesting items you can find! You can use browns, red, navy, or cream to pull in the Americana theme to the mix as well.

One great way to pull off the theme is to also look for accents made of unfinished wood. You can often find tables and chairs that actually look like they were made with unfinished logs. These are perfect for a Western decorated kitchen. In addition, you can use photo frames that look unfinished and put pictures of your family or of western mountains and hills in them. You can also find many items made from tree branches or logs as well as items made from deer antlers and items covered in cow hide (either faux or real!)

Another great thing to use is copper or black iron accents. You can get away with either of these. If you have a pot hanger over your kitchen island, you should try mixing both copper pieces and cast iron pieces. In addition, you can even use cast iron skillets or pans as wall decor and hang them accordingly. And don’t forget pot holders, tablecloths and dish towels made with Western theme fabrics.

Try your own Western decorating ideas in your kitchen to see exactly what works for you and what doesn’t. The Western theme is perfect if you love to constantly feel like you are the “Wild West” or in a log cabin. It can look great in any home if you are consistent with the decor. Using Western style accents on the counters, window treatments, floors and walls will help pull the look together and make you feel like you are rustling up grub for your cowhands on a Western ranch even if you are living in a modern city home!

Lee Dobbins writes for www.a-kitchen-decorating-idea.com where you can get more ideas for decorating your kitchen.

Tags: decor, decorating, home decor, home decorating, interior decorating, interior design, kitchendecor, decorating, home decor, home decorating, interior decorating, interior design, kitchen

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Did you ever wake up one morning, look around your bedroom and want to pull the cover back over your head? Join the club. Humans are one of the few creatures that frequently rearrange and re-do their living space. Bedrooms are the most frequent redecorating candidate. Every so often, for reasons unknown to many, we look at that cozy nest we carefully created and think “ugh.” It’s boring, it’s outdated, I’m sick of that color. Grand visions of a totally gutted and remodeled space may fill your mind, until you look at your bank balance. Don’t be glum! Redecorating doesn’t need to cost an arm and a leg!

The quickest way to a new look is a splash of paint. Even if you use the same color (because you had paint left over), a fresh coat of color reinvigorates the room, makes it look cleaner, newer. If you’ve grown tired of your wall color, choose a new one, drape protective cloths over the furniture and get rolling. The endorphins pumping through your veins after painting the whole room may just fire up some other decorating ideas for your bedroom.

One reason a fresh coat of paint reinvents a room is that the different color gives the space a whole new identity. The same idea applies to your bedding. If your budget is extremely limited, you might start by adding new pillow shams. Usually sold as a separate piece from comforters, sheets, or pillowcases, a sham is a highly decorative pillow covering. When making the bed in the morning, you slip your covered pillow into the sham-remove the sham at night before you go to sleep. If you find a great deal on pillow shams, buy a bunch-you can fill them with plain foam pillows and give your bed a luxurious look by piling them on.

A new comforter or bedspread is another way to redecorate your bedroom inexpensively. Check local malls for discount linen stores, or browse the Internet for great deals on beautiful, but cheap comforters and bed skirts.

A simple way to create a coordinated look without spending a lot of money is to use bed sheets to make window treatments. Often, comforters are sold in “bed sets,” which contain the comforter, as well as a fitted sheet, flat sheet and pillowcases. Since you sheets will usually be covered by the comforter, you can use the fitted and flat sheets as material to frame bedroom windows. If you don’t sew, use the special “no-sew” fabric glue sold in craft and fabric stores to hem a nice edge. In a pinch, you can hold a hem using a hot glue gun.

Decorating or redecorating a bedroom is often a matter of changing one or two elements. You can have a new look even if you don’t feel up to the task of choosing colors or shopping for the best bedding deal. Sometimes, all that’s needed is to re-arrange the furniture. And if that simple change leads to others, good for you!

Additional information, resources, and updates for this article can be found at:
http://www.diyhomedecorating.com/articles/2005-10/200/cheap-bedroom-decorating-ideas/

© 2005, Kathy Burns-Millyard. Visit The Do It Yourself Home Decorating Network - http://www.diyhomedecorating.com - for more Decorating Ideas, Tips and Resources.

Tags: bedroom decorating, cheap decorating, decor, ideas, tipsbedroom decorating, cheap decorating, decor, ideas, tips

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Summer decorating is a wonderful time to lighten up the colors and fabrics in your home. While you may not be able to decorate every room, there are numerous ways to add summer flair. You can decorate with a summer theme such as fruit (apples, strawberries, grapes), flowers (roses, carnations, daisies), or seaside nautical in addition to following some of the ideas listed below.

1. Replace heavy drapery with light sheers. The sheers provide an airy appeal while letting in the sunshine. If removing your existing drapery is not an option, consider changing just the valance and tiebacks to a lighter color. Another option is to use grapevine wreaths, strands of beads, artificial flowers, or decorative ribbons as your tiebacks or swag holders.

2. Store away items that are not useful in the summer such as blankets, throws, and heavy quilts.

3. Lighten up the color of your sofa by placing a slipcover on it or replacing your dark colored pillows with lighter colors.

4. Place light colored slipcovers on your all-wood dining room or kitchen chairs.

5. To add a lighter summer touch to your dark wood tables, use white lace or doilies as runners or tablecloths.

6. If you have a heavy bedspread, considering replacing it with a lightweight linen blanket.

7. Bring in the outdoors by adding fresh flowers in vases or baskets to counters, tabletops, and nightstands.

8. Add summer accessories around your home such as birdhouses, sea shells, bowls of fruits or vegetables, and summer reading materials.

9. If you have dark lampshades, replace them with lighter ones.

10. Repaint a dark hallway in your favorite hue such as buttery yellow, a creamy tan, or a fresh apple green.

11. Display a grouping of floral plates on a wall, hutch, or fireplace mantle.

12. Clean out the ashes in your fireplace and fill the firebox with a large artificial fern or a basket of colorful flowers.

13. Place twigs in tall vases and set on each side of the fireplace mantle.

14. To add summer whimsy to your bathrooms, hang lightweight fabric shower curtains printed with ladybugs, bees, flowers, or palm trees. Display matching hand towels and rugs to continue the summer theme.

15. Change the layout of your furniture to give your rooms a fresh, new look.

Decorating your home for the summer does not have to be complicated or cost a lot of money. As you can see from the ideas listed above, a new lamp shade, adding new fabrics, or changing the paint color of a room can breathe new life into your interior design. So, have fun and use your imagination to bring some fresh new looks into your home for the summer season.

Lesley Dietschy is a freelance writer and the creator/editor of The Home Decor Exchange and the Home & Garden Exchange. The Home Decor Exchange is a popular home and garden website featuring resources, articles, decorating pictures, free projects, and a shopping marketplace. The Home & Garden Exchange website is a link exchange program and directory dedicated to the home and garden industry, as well as offering free website content and promotional ideas. Please visit both websites for all of your home, garden, and website needs.

http://www.HomeDecorExchange.com

http://www.HomeGardenExchange.com

Tags: decor, decorate, decorating, ideas, seasonal, summerdecor, decorate, decorating, ideas, seasonal, summer

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