DIY & Decor

As we wrote previously in our article about White Christmas Decoration, this theme can be executed in a modern or classic way. It’s a beautiful scheme that can be combined with the elegant or trendy themes. This post is to show how to achieve the look.

White can be cold and frosty - but these qualities are perfect to create a Christmassy feel. You just have to be careful to use textures and textiles that can add some warmth - for example mix frosty glass baubles with fluffy ones, such as these:
   
 

This is a preview, read Christmas Decorating with white in full.

One of the nicest Christmas decoration themes is what last year we called winter wonderland. First read the article itself and then come back to this post to see a few examples as to how to achieve the look.

Here is a picture that identifies this theme:

It is important that you use as many natural objects as you can. Go for a walk in the nearest wood, forest or park to collect twigs, berries, acorns, cones, nuts, seeds and leaves. Dry these out for a couple of weeks - you can then decorate them to create wreaths, garlands and ornaments, such as these:

This is a preview, read Natural Decoration in full.

In our article about Elegant Christmas Decoration, you will have read about how to create a classy yet timeless look. This post is to illustrate the theme with a few examples.

Of all the themes, this can be the easiest but also the most difficult to bring off. It is easy because you can combine items and details from other themes; it is difficult because it needs careful planning & execution.

Subtlety & harmony are the keywords, so make sure you don’t use too many colors, two much metallic finishes or too many ornaments. Less is more - don’t allow your decor to become tacky.

This is a preview, read Timeless Christmas Decorating Ideas in full.

If you need ideas for Traditional Christmas Decorating, we have put a few images together to help you. First read our earlier article about Traditional Christmas decoration, which explains this theme and how to get the right look.

Here are a couple of Christmas trees that are decorated in this style..

This is a preview, read Traditional Christmas Decorating Ideas in full.

 Halloween is over, Thanksgiving is just around the corner - and most of us have started to think about Christmas, encouraged by the shops and stores who have put up their own decor and started their usual Christmas campaigns.

Before you start buying up those seductive decorations, think about what sort of theme you want to create this year and what kind of decorative objects you already have from previous years. It is best to supplement these with extra items to suit your chosen theme.  If it’s your first home and you would like to buy your first set of decoration - don’t just go for the latest trend. Instead choose timeless items that can be adapted each year to complement a different theme or mood..

This is a preview, read Christmas decoration ideas in full.

Today is Halloween. Have you read our previous article about decorating for Halloween? Hopefully you and your kids are having fun today at a party!

However, there is problem - namely that, until Christmas, there isn’t much to cheer us up. The days are getting shorter, greyer and colder. Lots of people become tired, irritable or sad - some of us would prefer just to hibernate until Spring! So if you feel the winter blues coming on, why don’t you do a bit of DIY decor to perk up your mood?

Think about comforting foods, smells, textures and colours - things that make you feel better, happier and more relaxed..

This is a preview, read Winter Decor in full.

Halloween is upon us. It’s a good excuse to decorate our homes and have a bit of fun with our kids, or to organise a Halloween-themed party. This can be really quick and easy - with a little imagination you can create a memorable festivity.  So here are a few suggestions to brighten up our environments:

You can customise a basic Christmas wreath - one that is made of twigs, berries and cones - and add some dried fallen leaves, candies or a witch. Put this on your door or above the mantelpiece. You can make smaller ones which you can put around candle holders, bowls or vases.

This is a preview, read Decorating for Halloween in full.

As I wrote in the previous article, gloss and lacquered finishes are yet again fashionable. However, you don’t need to replace all your furniture, with a bit of imagination you can update your home to shine!

If you’re happy with the wall colors, just add a shimmery or pearly  layer of varnish or glaze over the existing paint. If you want to change the color scheme, choose  seductive yet subdued colors, such as chocolate, coffee-latte, caramel, ivory, sage, pink, mauve, taupe - either in a gloss finish, or add a top layer of transparent shiny glaze. Wallpapers are also back - big time. But don’t cover all walls, just a feature wall in a textured, glamorous and shiny or metallic finish. Look out for bronze and gold - these two metallic finishes are taking over from silver & chrome.

This is a preview, read Glossy interiors in full.

After a period of matt finishes being the trend, gloss is back and it’s everywhere - on walls, walls, furniture and ornaments.  This new trend was started by the nostalgic inspiration of Art deco and Hollywood Glamour of the twenties and thirties, but now every modern chic interior has to shimmer by glossy surfaces.

Applying a high-gloss finish to surfaces started in the kitchen. Over the last year or so we have seen a shift from using dark wood veneer to lacquered glossy surfaces.  Kitchen doors have become shiny - black, red & white - and these are combined with mirrored, metallic or coloured glass tiles and splash-backs.  Even Ikea has brought out their Abstract range in these high-gloss finishes, which are hugely successful worldwide..

This is a preview, read High Gloss finishes in full.

In the previous article you read about how to cast your own stepping stones. Remember, you should leave them aside for a couple of days to set completely before you can lay them along your pathway.

As I said before, stepping stones are less obtrusive, easier and cheaper to lay than solid pathways. They are particularly suitable for long paths and as focal points. You can be imaginative with shapes and styles - the flexibility of concrete provides creative freedom..

This is a preview, read Setting stepping stones in full.