Hi all! I am taking on the task of trying to redecorate my home. The landlord has told us we can paint, finally after 3 years of persistant asking. I need ideas on how to rehaul the whole house on a very small budget (under 300.00). The rooms needing new life are a laundry room, kitchen, livingroom, dining room, small hallway and 4 bedrooms. I cant find any ideas online as all the things I have seen are for larger style homes, which a mobile home is far from large. I have access to a seamstress to do any fabric work I need for free (aside from me getting the fabric). I should be able to buy all paint bor about 100.00 which leaves me with a budget of 200.00 for decorating. any ideas?
Also I would like to know if there is a way to make the old carpets in here look new again. I have a carpet cleaner and after my weekly cleaning they look old and clean. I would love for them to look new & clean! Any ideas would be great and much appreciated.
Christian Anniversary Gifts

I recently found these beautifully decorated photo boxes that are great storage for small items anything, and also have a place to write the contents on the outside. Have you found anything attractive for storage (for any room)?
Particularly looking for closet and kitchen ideas…
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Choosing room colors creates a sense of space that’s consistent, comfortable and cozy. Designate rooms by color and create an interesting new home look with tips from a professional decorator in this free video on home decorating. Expert: Ann Myrick Bio: Since 1997, Ann Myrick has been a professional decorator, house cleaner, home organizer and planner. Filmmaker: Tim Brown
Casa Cristina Collection

A very important part of the majority of landscape designs is the garden furniture that is to be used in the garden and lawn around the house. Outdoor Furniture included in a plan of landscaping is a way of creating special places in your garden, where the family and their guests can meet comfortably, relax and enjoy the beauty of the surroundings. In addition, furniture for the outdoors will make people feel attracted to the special meeting area so that the they will be more willing to make use of the landscaping and appreciate your efforts for landscaping.

Added Living Space

A superior landscape design not only produces beautiful surroundings, but the most advantageous landscaping concepts carve out extra living space that extends the useful square footage of your home. Depending on the size of your own land and landscape design, these outdoor living spaces can on certain occasions double the area people have for social gatherings of family and friends. The seating arrangements make a big difference in how well these spaces are finally used and the manner in which your guests will enjoy all your efforts on entertaining outdoors.

There is a wide range of furniture that is made primarily for use in areas that are outdoors. There are styles ranging from the formal to relaxed and elegant and comfortable. Numerous different types of materials are used in making frames of outdoor pieces of furniture as well as for cushions and covers which are used to make them comfortable and inviting.

Choosing The Right Colors

When making the right selection of garden furniture, some people prefer to select styles, colors and textures that blend and reflect the total design of the landscaping around their house. This type of approach has a tendency to create a harmonious blend that helps the people experiencing it to relax and feel more involved in the garden that surrounds them. Greens, browns and more muted tones of nature are well liked for those who want to create a smooth flow between your garden and furniture design they add.

Other homeowners enjoy furniture for the garden that pop out and end up getting attention. Often, the colors are bright and the designs are very bold and are not intended mix in with the natural background. The pieces normally have an artistic type of feeling are primarily intended to make a statement and on certain occasions reflect the personality of the homeowner. These types of options in outdoor furniture create a lively atmosphere of fun and frivolity.

Flowing Design

Another approach that some individuals take when it comes to their outdoor living spaces is to make you feel as though the garden or patio which they have just stepped into is no more than a continuation of the interior living space. This is accomplished by the selection of styles, fabrics and colors that intimately imitate the furniture inside the house. Numerous individuals like this approach because it can fool the eye and make both the house and garden spaces seem more prominent, as they flow together smoothly.

Once you have selected just the right outdoor furniture that will make your guests more comfortable and will continue with the overall theme and the feel of your living area outdoors, it is a good idea to give attention to the lighting in the area. Good landscape lighting really complete the outdoor spaces and make them feel even more welcoming and warm, particularly if you will be doing nigh time entertaining.
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I am not interested in dolls or scarecrows, or any seasonal crafts like angels or santas.
I’m more interested in turning the tomato cage into something else for outside garden decor or something useful….. any interesting suggestions?? (helpful instructions would be appreciated too!)
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Defining a style is a tall order to fill. For each person a slightly different mental image may be conjured up. When talking of cottage style, one might picture a quaint little house on the coast of Maine, a rustic shack by a lake, or a simple dwelling in a rural farming community.

Cottages were originally summer or vacation homes or simple country houses. As a vacation house, owners were interested in it being easy to care for, fun, durable and mostly for spring and summertime use. They were often furnished with leftovers, hand- me downs, or bargains. Pieces were meant to be used and enjoyed. Time spent at the cottage was supposed to be full of pleasures for the senses.

I like to think that cottage style is more of an attitude than a list of design details. The gentle breeze of a summer day, the relaxed bliss of a vacation, a cold glass of lemonade enjoyed on a porch swing, waking to the chirping of birds, and the scent of fresh cut grass bring a mindset of comfort and relaxation. Those sensory experiences can be duplicated in cottage style design. The trick is to find pieces that you love that summon cottage attitude while still producing a cohesive look.

Here are a few ideas to help create cottage style attitude:

-Colors-

While there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to a color palette for cottage style, it is usually a good idea to stick to lighter colors. Common cottage style colors can be found by looking outside at nature and specifically the garden. Shades of pink, coral, green and pale orange, yellow, along with varying shades of blue are among a few. Blue and white combinations are very common. Many cottage enthusiasts prefer an all or mostly white color scheme for maximum relaxation. Whatever color you choose be sure that you love it.

-Furnishings-

For comfort and relaxation consider overstuffed or at least cushy upholstery pieces. Slipcovers are popular in cottage style because they extend the life of worn out sofas and chairs and are budget friendly not to mention easy to care for. Slightly weathered pieces add an informal feel and won’t make guests nervous to put their feet up. Warm wood finishes bring life and interest to a cottage space. Painted wood and pine pieces are also often used. Many furnishings in a cottage house may have had a previous life – perhaps with different upholstery or a different paint finish. Garden and patio furnishings find their way into a cottage space, often in the form of iron or wicker.

-Textiles-

Soft textiles in the form of rugs, pillows, drapes, and throws are both comforting and an easy way to repeat your color scheme throughout the room. Fabric choices include floral, stripes, checks, and solids, sometimes mixed all together. Cotton fabrics are an obvious choice because they are easy to take care of. Again, there are no real rules, but stick to fabrics that are not too fancy or difficult to keep up. Woven fibers in the form of baskets and rugs are a great way to bring more texture to a space and are seen frequently in cottage homes.

-Putting it all together-

Now comes the tricky part, putting it all together. Cottage style is by nature a little bit eclectic so how do you keep a space from feeling disjointed? One strategy is to repeat your color scheme throughout your room. Once you have chosen your colors stick to that color palette and repeat it. Inspiration can come from anywhere but common sources are a rug, dish, pillow, or favorite artwork. Textiles and artwork are also a great way to keep the palette together. To make furnishings that are different in style or finish seem more cohesive, consider painting them a unifying color such as white or black. Accessories are an important part of cottage style and should be highly personal. But going overboard on knickknacks detracts from the essence of cottage style. Keep it as simple as you possibly can.

Cottage style is difficult to pin down. When you get in the cottage mood it is difficult to imagine being anywhere else. Who wants to leave when you are on vacation?
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