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How to Make Any Space Feel Like Home

September 20, 2016 by

Making your space feel like a home can be a little overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be difficult. All you need to do is add your own personality to your space and make it feel more cozy. Follow these tips to make your space feel more comfortable and homey.

  • Decorate your space with people and places that you love and with items that have meaning to you. Use artwork that features places or maps of places that have a special meaning to you and your family.
  • A simple positive message can have a way of making you feel good and really bring up your mood. Use art that features a quote or phrase and hang it somewhere where you will be sure to see it every day.
  • Place a lot of throw pillows on your couch or bed. These will always make you feel nice and cozy. A throw blanket can give you the same effect as well.
  • Add a rug or two to your dining or living room area. A rug will make your space feel more complete and less empty or bare.
  • Add a lamp on your bedside table or on your desk to add a little bit of light to your home. If your space is too dark, you will never achieve that cozy feeling.

8 Ways to Decorate With Love and Meaning [Houzz]
8 Ways to Make Your House More Homey [Home Garden Vibes]
Decorating Tricks to Make Your New House Welcoming and Cozy [Freshome]

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5 Stylish Alternatives to the Traditional Nightstand

September 6, 2016 by

Whether you're working with limited space or you're simply looking for something more unique than traditional furniture, there are a number of reasons why you might want to skip the usual squared nightstand and opt for something a bit more tailored to your needs. Here are just five great alternatives to the usual bedside table — and even a few that aren't tables at all!

  1. A chair. Visit your local thrift store or a stylish home goods store to pick out chic chairs that can double as bedside tables. They're perfect for creating a base for your current reads and an alarm clock, or if you prefer to go the minimal route and leave the chair's base bare, you can even use it to sit on.
  2. A sturdy shelf. If you only have a few feet to spare on either side of your bed, simply attach a small shelf to the wall and use it as a compact nightstand alternative.
  3. A vintage milk crate. Hunt for these rustic wooden crates at local antique sales or even the farmers market if you're looking for a bedside table with a bit more personality. Simply flip it upside down or on its side, depending on how tall you want your "table" to look.
  4. A desk. If you're on the other side of the bedroom spectrum and actually have more space than you know what to do with, use a desk as your nightstand. That way, you can fill empty space and create a private area for answering e-mails or planning your week.
  5. A bar cart. Everyone loves the retro bar cart, but this piece isn't just designed for housing your favorite spirits. Use it in a guest bedroom to provide your guests with a carafe of water, fresh flowers, toiletries and more.

Rethink the Table: 22 Bedside Alternatives [Brit + Co]

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Decorating with Color? Learn the Meaning Behind Your Favorite Hues

August 2, 2016 by

When decorating, follow your instinct and incorporate colors that make you feel energized and inspired. Here’s how to figure out the meaning of the colors that you’re drawn to and how to incorporate them into your home.

  • Blue represents the color of the waves in the ocean and should be used to be calming, healing, and relaxing. It also exemplifies the feeling of security and dependability.
  • Green represents newness and life. It is a balancing color that stands for growth, abundance, and nature.
  • In decorating, red is a very powerful color. It is exciting and powerful and represents luxury, passion and romance.
  • Purple is a very spiritual color that represents abundance and dignity.
  • Yellow is a color that gives you a happy and uplifting feeling. It is a great sociable color so it’s recommended for your kitchen, dining room, or living room areas.
  • Grey represents “the rock” and stands for solidity and support. It is probably the most popular neutral in decorating because it can seem nondescript.
  • White can have a way of making you feel clean, pure, and innocent. It represents hope and openness and is very inviting.
  • Decorating with the dramatic color black can bring a sense of elegance and sophistication to your space.

​Color 101: Learn the Underlying Meaning of Your Favorite Shades [HGTV]
What the Color of Your Living Room Says About You [House Beautiful]
FENG SHUI COLORS: Find out the meaning of colors and how to use them successfully in your home [Feng Shui & Beyond]

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DIY Projects to Help You Corral Common Paper Clutter

July 5, 2016 by

A clutter of mail, memos, and paper can make a room feel messy and unorganized. Here are some simple do-it-yourself storage projects to help keep your mail and papers neat and organized—once and for all!

  • Vertical Paper Holders, By Me! [Scrapendipity] Vertical magazine files are easy and inexpensive to make. All you need is priority-mailing boxes from the post office and regular interior latex paint. Lay the boxes flat, paint both sides, cut them using a pattern, then simply assemble them.
  • Shanty Memo Frame! [Shanty 2 Chic] Make your own memo board to hang on your wall. First you will need an empty old frame, or you can just purchase one on sale at any craft store. You can then paint it the color of your choice. Let the paint dry and decorate your frame with flowers or buttons or anything else you want to glue on. Use a staple gun to attach twine to the back of the frame. Just keep twining and stapling back and forth in a random zig-zag pattern until your desired look is achieved.
  • Decorative Burlap Memo Board [Beneath My Heart] Make your own large burlap memo board using a large green foam board, pieces of wood, and upholstery tacks. Start out by measuring the space that you want it in. You’ll then make a wooden frame, then glue that frame on top of the green foam board with a glue gun. Lay the board on top of the burlap and hot glue it tightly to the wood. Finally, nail the upholstery tacks evenly around the edges of the board and you’re finished!

Public Domain/Flickr/Anna Bieniek
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Style a Catalog-Worthy Bed With These Pro Pointers

June 7, 2016 by

Styling your bed can be a little difficult. There are so many different color and pattern options for bedding, not to mention the wealth of options available for pillows and decorative accents! Follow the tips below to create a unique bed that fits your style.

  • Follow guidelines on how to layer your pillows depending on the size of your bed. For example, a king bed should have three Euro pillows, then two king pillows, then two standard pillows, and a few accent pillows on top of that.
  • Use a simple, neutral color for your comforter or duvet cover and add a splash of color with your pillowcases or accent pillows.
  • Place a throw or blanket at the bottom of your bed. Make sure the texture or color matches the same as your pillows at the head of your bed.
  • For a sophisticated look, be sure to make your bed tight with little to no wrinkles.
  • Style up your bed with a traditional wooden, upholstered, metal, or neutral headboard.
  • If headboards aren’t your style, hang a piece of art or a large mirror on the wall above your bed to create the illusion of a headboard.

How To Make a Bed [Pottery Barn]
How to Style a Bed [The Everygirl]
Dressed to Snooze: 20 Ideas for Styling a Bed [Apartment Therapy]

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Budget-Friendly Ways to Decorate Your Home at M5250

May 3, 2016 by

While you can’t make permanent renovations in a rental, there are a number of ways to add your own personality to the space in a truly budget-friendly way. Here are just a few ideas for decorating your home at M5250 — even if you’re on a budget!

  • Spraypaint large, wall-sized canvases (or a series of two or three) from the local art supply store in bright, bold shades. This is an easy way to add a pop of color to your walls that mimics the effects of a new paint job, and it makes it affordable to create your own simple artwork.
  • Mix and match furniture from the local resale store to create a kitschy, cool effect that looks straight out of a design magazine. This is also a great way to save a good bit of money on big ticket items, such as sofas and lounge chairs.
  • Bring in elements of the outdoors to create a warm, natural look throughout the home. Fill vases with stark branches, add seashells to small bowls, or fill a large jar with pinecones for seasonal dwcor.
  • Create your own headboard by simply covering a flat, wooden board the size of your bed with a high quality fabric. Leave the top open and stuff it with pillow filling, and then add tufted details or nailheads along the outer edges.

32 Budget-Friendly Home Decorating Ideas [Country Living]
Budget Decorating [HGTV]
20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas [Real Simple]
20 Thrifty, Frugal & Inexpensive Decorating Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

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Chemical-Free Ways to Clean Your Oven at M5250

March 1, 2016 by

You’re always on the hunt for chemical-free ways to clean your home, but when it comes to really heavy duty cleaning in areas like the oven, it may seem almost impossible. Luckily, it is possible to clean your oven without using chemicals—it just takes a bit of ingenuity and a few smart tips from the pros.

  1. Take out the oven racks and let them soak in a tub of hot water.
  2. Make a paste of ¼ cup of baking soda, 2 tablespoons of coarse salt and just enough warm water to create a thick consistency.
  3. Using a durable sponge, scrub the paste into the stained parts in your oven. Concentrate on areas that see a lot of spills and drips, such as the bottoms and around the racks.
  4. Let the past sit on the stains for an hour or two, depending on their severity.
  5. Using the same sponge rinsed out with clean water, wipe away the paste and give it a second good scrub. You may also want to use a finer grade steel wool for difficult stains.
  6. For extra cleaning power, spray the entire oven with a spray bottle filled with white vinegar, then wipe it away with a clean cloth.
  7. Before replacing the oven racks, scrub them using simple steel wool and an all-natural dishwasher detergent to break down grease.

How To Clean an Oven Without Harsh Chemicals [Apartment Therapy]
Natural Oven Cleaning Recipe [Wellness Mama]
How To Clean an Oven With Baking Soda & Vinegar [The Kitchn]

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How to Keep Your Apartment’s Entryway Neat and Clutter-Free

June 2, 2015 by

Instead of dropping your bag, shoes, jacket, and keys on the floor in front of your door, use these tips for creating a neat and clutter-free entryway.

  • Add hooks. Invest in some sturdy, attractive hooks and install them just to one side of your door. Larger ones can accommodate jackets and coats, while smaller ones are perfect for hanging a scarf or purse.
  • Add seating. Many people like to add seating where guests can sit to take off their shoes. Consider a compact bench with storage underneath to maximize your space.
  • Place a basket near the door. To avoid clutter around the doorway, add a small basket or decorative tray where you can toss your keys, mail, and other small items.
  • Consider the lighting. Do you often come home to a dark apartment at night? If so, you might also want to add a standing lamp to light the way when you enter the door.
  • Finish with a doormat. A doormat is essential for wiping muddy feet and keeping guests from tracking dirt through your home. Choose one in a bright color or with a witty greeting.

Maintain an Efficient, Orderly Entryway [Better Homes & Gardens]
Makeshift Mudroom: Tips to Keep Your Entryway Clear [Storage Pros]
11 Super-Organized Entryways to Clear the Way for Guests [Porch]

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How to Create a Home “Command Center”

February 3, 2015 by

There are likely days when it maintaining your—or your family's—day-to-day schedule can prove to be a daunting task. Why not consider creating a central home command center? You can rely on this single location to keeping things running smoothly in your abode. Here's how to do it:

  1. Choose the perfect space. Whether you pick an unused wall in the kitchen or a small nook in the living room, just about any centrally located space in your home will do.
  2. Post a bulletin board. This is essential for displaying notes, recording missed phone calls, or posting bills with near-approaching due dates.
  3. Add a calendar. Keep everyone’s sports schedules and work trips on file with a large calendar in your command center. Encourage your family members to write their upcoming appointments on the calendar so that there’s no missed communication as the date approaches.
  4. Take advantage of shelves. Whether you have a full bookcase or a simple hanging shelf, shelves are important for storing file folders, medical records, and bins for spare keys and other essentials.
  5. Cut the clutter. To avoid clutter in your command center, weed out the junk mail, magazines, smelly gym bags, and other unimportant items.

Do you have tips for staying organized? Please share them!

How to Organize the Family Command Center [Real Simple]
Family Command Center [Pinterest]
Done in a Day: Family Command Center [Southern Living]

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4 Tips for Speed Cleaning the Bathroom

September 3, 2014 by

Let's face it: Cleaning the bathroom is a dirty job, but somebody's got to do it! These simple tips will help you to speed clean your bathroom quickly and effectively, even if you only have a few minutes.

  1. Invest in the right tools. Things like sponges and buckets are much more trouble than they’re worth when it comes to speed cleaning the bathroom. Stock up on pre-soaked cleaning wipes to clean surfaces, and then toss them out when you’re done. Microfiber cloths clean glass mirrors without forming streaks, and a sturdy toilet brush is always a great investment.
  2. Start with the toilet. The toilet is likely the dirtiest thing in your bathroom, so tackle it first. Pour one cup of bleach inside, brush the sides with a toilet brush, and then let it sit while you move on to the next task. At the conclusion of your cleaning routine, flush the bleach down the toilet and you’re good to go!
  3. Clean surfaces. Using a separate cleansing wipe, wipe your sink, faucets, and bathtub or shower. Separate wipes help to avoid cross-contamination between surfaces.
  4. Tidy up. If you don’t have time to wash all of your damp bath towels, simply straighten them on their racks. Be sure to replace the hand towel, however, as this is used much more frequently.

Speed Cleaning: Tips to De-Scum Your Bathroom [Good Housekeeping]
How to Speed Clean Your Bathroom [CNN]
Simplify the Season: Speed Clean Your Bathroom [Clean Mama]
Speed Cleaning Tips from Professional Cleaners [Organized Home]

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