How to Create a Mood Themed Room

Creating a Mood or Feeling Should be the Number One Goal When Deciding Upon the Theme or Design of a Space

When we decorate, we tend to think in terms of colors and furnishings, but the first real place to start is to ask this question:

What do I want myself and others to feel when walking into this space? 

Although starting with emotion can seem like an artsy-fartsy place to begin, it's far from it. 

A mood consists of many senses. For example, warmer tones, deep, comfy furnishings, and multiple lush textures would be the way to go if you'd like people to feel relaxed. 

Use wall art to feature warmer scenes such as rich treed forests, winter coziness, a sunset over the ocean, or an evening photo featuring the warmth of a summer city skyline. 

With decorating, it's very easy to get off track. When we decide to start with the mood, we're telling our decorating mind to stay focused on pieces and colors that tie into our initial goal. 

Here's an example: You've decided that the mood you wish to create is the feeling you'd get from a happy sunny spring day, so what's next?

• What do you want to feature that creates Happiness in Spring? Is it flowers? OK, all flowers, or one? Let's say Sunflowers.

• Next, which colors do you want to feature in the room that reflects happiness, spring, and sunflowers? That's easy: sky blue, various shades of yellow, leaf and grass greens, some white, beige, or cream.

• You want wall art to enhance the size of the space, so you choose spring-featured 3D wall decal pieces that feature happy, light, and peaceful scenes - The art serves two purposes: to enhance the room's size as well as aid in achieving your first goal, to create a mood of happiness in spring.

• Your bedding, rugs, draperies, and accessories are now easier to decide upon as you know you need to stay on track with your initial goal! Now, when you go shopping, you're not distracted by the next new shiny thing; you're focused on choosing pieces that will work for your room and ultimately help you achieve your mood goal.

As you read all of this, you may think it needs to be more complex. But the thing is, many of us need help getting it right. Even if we don't have the funds to go out and spend on new things to create a mood or emotion,  we can still use our existing pieces.

How to Use Existing Pieces in Your Room to Create a Focus Mood/Emotion:

Let's stay with a "Happiness in Spring" theme, using Sunflowers as the focus.

• If you can't change your couch, you can buy slipcovers; if you can't afford slipcovers, then simply use throw pillows and a throw blanket featuring sunflowers. If your sofa is already patterned, use bright, solid, colored throw pillows and throw blankets.

• Paint your room, choosing from the four colors of sunflower spring: sky blue, deep grass green, sunflower yellow, or beige/white/cream. Try a deep grass green on one wall with a pale yellow or beige on the others.

• In regards to window coverings - This one is a little tougher. If you can't spend any money on new drapes, try switching out drapes with another room, or if privacy is OK, remove them altogether. The change will often be enough.

In summary, if you can't spend a lot of money to change a room, then you focus on colors, textures, wall art, pillows, and small accessories, all of it tieing into your initial mood/emotion - 'happiness in spring.' 

When you're all done, give your room the name of the mood you created - 'Happiness in Spring.'

Do it for every room in your home.

• The Kitchen (Fresh and Healthy) <---that would be fun to create
  
• How about the Bedroom (Nautical Freedom) <--think what you could do to that room
  
• A little girl's room (Confident and Brave) <---a switch from the usual 'be a princess' approach
  

Some Additional Emotions and Moods You Could Use as Room Themes:

1. Grateful Contentment
2. Enthusiastic Learning
3. Wacky and Wild
4. Utopian Earth
5. Faith in People
6. Lost in Space
7. Euphoria Lives Here
8. Barbie Goes Goth
9. My Spiritual Abyss
10. Being Down Died
11. Flighty and Undecided
12. Snowed In Forever
13. Flower Fishing
14. Paradise Sneezed
15. Incoming!

Well, there you go! Those are 15 ideas to get you started.

Remember, the mood/emotion is just the first step. The best part is getting specific and deciding upon the pieces, colors, fabrics, and textures that will bring your idea to life.

Have a blast!

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Spring Forward and Spruce Up that Balcony

My springtime sunset view

Our clocks have just sprung ahead and spring becomes official in a matter of days. Whether you live in an area that is celebrating the end of blizzards and ice storms or an area that remains mild all year, the sun shinier days of spring bring on a desire to embrace the outdoors. And there is no better way to celebrate spring than to include your outdoor living space in your spring cleaning and redecorating.  Here are five inexpensive ways to spruce up your small balcony or patio areas.

If you gift yourself a comfortable and personalized place to relax, your outdoor living area will become an extension of your home.  As you can see, the experience and the views while sitting outdoors can be priceless. 

Low-Cost Outdoor Seating

Patio and balcony seating does not have to cost a small fortune. Neither does it have to be large and bulky.  You can create seating no matter how small your outdoor area.


I wish I had a slightly larger balcony so that I could DIY my own furniture.  But because my balcony is so small, and because I want to make sure to save sufficient space for plants, I tend to use an assortment of ever-changing rugs and cushions to keep my space comfy. 

The best part about using cushions is that they are easily changed to suit the season or your mood. My textiles on the balcony have changed from animal prints, to bright florals, to very earthy/neutral colors, and back again. Go ahead, spruce up your balcony with a few new cushions. 

Beautiful Bird Pillow

Indoor/Outdoor Loveseat-sized Cushion

Outdoor Flooring

I love the coziness of a rug on my balcony. Rugs add so much comfort to an outdoor area.  People are right to be concerned about the deterioration of indoor rugs that are exposed to the elements and the damage that can be done by wet carpets on balconies.

I have wooden flooring on my deck. During blowing rain, my rugs are sometimes soaked. But that does not stop me from using rugs (especially runners) to add color and comfort. I am careful to use rugs that are suitable for the outdoors. Sometimes, I use thinner indoor rugs but am sure to watch for moisture gathered under them and hang them over the rail to dry when necessary.

Indoor/Outdoor Floral Runner

Green Space: Morning Glories and Other Suitable Greenery

We know this world needs more green space. Not only for the health of our earth, but I fully believe for our own health.  No matter how small your outdoor space, you can certainly find some suitable greenery.  

My green privacy screen

Over the years - through trial and error - I have found that marigolds, morning glories, tomatoes, mint, lavender, and rosemary flourish in my third floor balcony garden.  I had some success with blueberries, believe it or not, and would have likely had better success had I remembered to have someone water my blueberry bushes during a period of time that I was away.

My favorite part of having a living balcony is my morning glory privacy screen. Each year, my morning glories twine up the railing and provide a living green screen that delights me with the increased protection from the prying eyes of neighbors and provides the visiting hummingbirds and bees with an extra snack. 

Soothing Sounds - Water Features and Wind Chimes

Two very popular items for outdoor areas are water features and wind chimes.  

I gravitate toward wind chimes. Listening to them tinkling in the wind is something that soothes me.  Small wind chimes can tinkle like tiny bits of glass and large wind chimes can sound like distant church bells on a country Sunday morning.  Bamboo chimes have a natural, "woodsy" sound. Some chimes including shining and sparkling bits that reflect prisms as they move in the breeze.  Frankly, wind chimes and the different varieties deserve their own article.

I have found a great many people who have "desktop" water features on their small balconies. What a great idea!  I am tempted to make room in my outdoor space for one of these so that I too can listen to running water while just steps outside of my livingroom.  I think the Alpine Tabletop Leaf Fountain would be a great addition to my balcony garden. 

Going to the Birds

Balconies and Bird Feeders go together like peanut butter and jelly. At least they do around my place. I love bird feeders. I have kept seed feeders on my previous balconies and enjoyed the many feathered friends who came to visit.

My current balcony is not as suited to a seed feeder. So I stick with a hummingbird feeder.  These winged miracles are so fun to watch and to listen to as they flit around.

Related Links: 

Cheap Seats: Cushions and Poufs -- Photographs that include examples of cushions and poufs being used for seating on tiny balconies. And a sample of a DIY couch made of cinder block, post, and cushions. You may feel limited by the size of your outdoor space but as some of these photos show; the sky is the limit. You can turn your small outside space into a pretty, useful, and comfortable living area.

FUNK'N Practicality with Reversible Patio Mats -- These mats are too large for my teeny balcony but I'd still love to have one. I have friends that use these mats for outdoor gatherings. They are durable, beautiful, and portable. 

Morning Glory - The Beautiful Privacy Screen -- For the past two or three years, I've grown morning glories on my balcony rail.  But this article shows a floor to ceiling green screen. And an important warning about pets and morning glory seeds.

Tuned Wind Chimes Review -- If you love wind chimes but have never heard of tuned wind chimes, this article is a must-read. The lovely sounds of good wind chimes playing music in the wind is something I enjoy very much.

First Hummingbird of 2015 -- The story of how I finally attracted hummingbirds to my balcony for two years in a row. This was after years of unsuccessful attempts. It's as easy as homemade sugar water and an inexpensive hummingbird feeder.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Tuned Wind Chimes Review

The beautiful, melodic sound of tuned wind chimes
can brighten a cloudy day.

If you ask me, wind chimes are a necessity on any porch or in a favorite garden spot, adding beautiful melodies to the fragrant air on a lazy afternoon. Tuned wind chimes are a wonderful choice to provide the most pleasing music to the ear, and a set of tuned wind chimes is a thoughtful choice for a gift for any occasion, especially during the spring and summer. Everyone loves wind chimes!

Several years ago we lost our house to a wildfire. During the months that our new home was being constructed, I knew that one thing we must have for our new, roomy front porch was a set of wind chimes. I chose Woodstock Chimes for their quality and "Amazing Grace" chimes specifically. The tubular chimes are tuned to the opening notes of the hymn "Amazing Grace," a tune that almost everyone recognizes and a song with a message that spoke volumes to us as we recovered from our traumatic loss. The chimes really were a perfect choice. The tune, the tone, and the message won me over.

The wind chimes in the short video below aren't mine, but it's kind of fun for me to listen to this because mine sound exactly the same and I can hear them chiming outside my home office window as I type this. If you choose Amazing Grace tuned wind chimes, yours will sound the same, too, since they're all perfectly tuned exactly the same way.

Play the video to hear how the chimes sound. Can you pick out the tune?

Prefer a different tune or tone? Click here to see more Woodstock tuned wind chimes.

Another impressive tuned wind chimes company that I recently found is Amish Chimes. Their chimes, too, are high quality with absolutely beautiful tone. I'm looking forward to adding a set of Amish Chimes to our back porch. Click the link to see and hear their selection. 

Tuned wind chimes are a wonderful gift idea for just about anyone. They're a great addition to a porch, patio, or garden area and they're available in sizes ranging from very small and high-pitched to long tubes with a very deep pitch. No doubt you'll find just the right set for someone special in your life.

A Set of Tuned Wind Chimes, A Great Gift Idea for . . .

• Easter

• A Birthday

• Christmas

• Father's Day

• Mother's Day

• A Wedding Gift

• A Hostess Gift

• A Grieving Friend

• A Housewarming Gift

• Your Favorite Gardener

• Yourself!

So tell me, who do you know that deserves their own set of tuned wind chimes?

~Susan Deppner
Read more of my reviews.

Still Shopping? Don't Miss Our Review This Gift Guide!

Posted by Susan Deppner

About the Author

Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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How to Sweep Your Floors Without Lifting a Finger

Whether it's Spring or Any Other Season, the Floors Always Need Sweeping ... Ugh!

Did you know you can sweep your floors all day without thinking about it or using a broom?

Yes, that's right .... all you have to do is walk around your home with slippers that sweep for you.

Do You Have Pets that Shed?

Are you buried in animal fur? Do you need a rescue team to come in and find you and the kids buried in a fog of dog hair? Ok, sure, it's not that bad (it could be?).

Floor Cleaning Slippers Featured Here

If you need a rescue, get the entire family their own pair of dusting slippers. They come in sizes that fit men, women, and kids.

Are You Sick of Seeing the Dust on Your Hardwood Floors?

You're not alone. Did you know that darker, shiny hardwood flooring shows almost every speck of dust, especially when the sun beams down on them through windows (yah, you know that already) ... and did you know that's one of the reasons people now choose a flatter finish for their hardwood.

In fact, my brother and his wife had just finished building their home, and they specifically chose hardwood that wasn't shiny to avoid seeing every bit of dust and dog hair they used to see in their
previous home.

These slippers are also a great housewarming gift for people moving into a new house.

In fact, a creative basket of cleaning goodies to make life easier is an ideal gift!

Add these slippers to your cleaning gift basket, and they'll love it! Hopefully, my brother and his wife don't read this article because, guess what they're getting from me?

So, How Do You Clean the Slippers that Do the Cleaning?

It's easy. Just detach the bottom velcroed micro-fiber cleaning piece and toss it in the washing machine. Depending upon your chosen style, some come as an entire piece, as featured in the photo labeled 'another style.'

Get a pair for everyone in the family and have them wear their cleaning slippers throughout the day, and at least you'll stay ahead of the dust!

How About A Slipper Party?

Yeah, that's weird.

But if you're into wacky-party themes, you can hold a 'Help Me Clean My House Party' and everyone gets a free gift! A pair of cleaning slippers that you provide for each person as they enter and that they have to wear at the party.

Sure, your house will have glasses, food, and other party goodies, but at least your floors will look good! Best of all, no shoes on in your home, no bare feet, and no smelly socks. All your guests will be wearing a new pair of cleaning slippers.

Would it be expensive - if you compare these to other items you have to acquire for a party, this is in the range .... 10 Slippers would be about $70 to $150 bucks, depending upon the style you choose.

Have Fun Cleaning!
by Barbara

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How to Change the Look and Feel of a Room Without Spending a Fortune

A Simple Facelift to our Washroom: A paint job,
new accessories, de-cluttering and cleaning
Total Cost: $150

If you live where changing seasons are a part of life, you know exactly what it means to 'feel the coming change in the air.'

It is hard to explain what it does to the senses to someone who's never experienced this artful conversion and how it unwittingly triggers many emotions within us.

How Changing Seasons Get Us Thinking About Changing Our Homes or, at the Very Least, Changing Our Decor

Since, at the time of writing this, Spring is on its way, typically, many urges hit us. Some of them include renewal, freshness, cleanliness, and, in the case of selling and buying a home, the urge for a new beginning. However, before you jump into the often exhausting process of selling a home, read this article to test your resolve.

So, How Can You Make Changes in Your Decor Without Dropping Big Bucks?

Here are Four simple, inexpensive decor ideas:

1. Add an Area Rug to a Room: If you have a room with tile or hardwood flooring, changing your existing rug or adding one where one never existed can dramatically change the look and feel of the space. You may think that Area Rugs are just too expensive; however, be sure to check out these very popular and affordable rugs; you'll be surprised by the big bang you get for your buck!
2. Clean and De-Clutter Your Space: This one change costs nothing but time and effort. Stand back from your room, take stock of what's in your room, and remove any furniture and knick-knacks that overwhelm the space.
3. Re-Arrange Your Space: This makes the biggest change. Look at your space; look at the position of the window, the door(s),  and how the traffic flows, then change the space by keeping 'traffic flow' in mind. In other words, keep any area where people naturally walk as they enter with furniture. This small technique will visually increase your space's size and give your room a greater sense of openness. 
4. Add Accessories to Warm Up the Room: Point number two talks about de-cluttering, but that doesn't mean you must remove every decorative accessory. The items that generally add to the 'feel' of a space are Throw Blankets and Pillows. Sparingly include these items without overdoing it, and you'll soften the space. 

There are many other ways to change the look and feel of a room without spending money, as well as an endless supply of DIY projects you can tackle; however, before you jump into these more complex tasks, start by using what you have - look around your house, re-use pieces from another room - creatively use the pieces you already own! 

Change doesn't have to involve spending a fortune!

by Barbara Tremblay Cipak

Funkthishouse.com

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Creative Storage Solutions for the Bathroom

Creative Toilet Paper Storage Idea

With the newer, more modern designs of Bathrooms, storage space for toiletries can be at a premium.

Even when, at first glance, there is quite a bit of storage in the washroom, once we start filling the cupboards, there never seems to be enough.

Creative storage solutions for the bathroom mean thinking outside of the box.

Toilet Paper Storage for a Small 2 Piece Washroom

In a small 2-piece washroom, there may be a cupboard space, or if there's a pedestal sink, no cupboard space. Hmmmm...What to do????

When storage is limited, I've come up with a creative

Inside View - Neat & Tidy

solution:

I had an old standing vase from way-back-when, that I decided to use in my main washroom to store toilet paper. 

We do have a cupboard in the washroom under the sink, but that's being used for other items. By having the toilet paper in the vase, the cupboard has room for many other items instead.

If you don't have an old vase to use, you can always pick one up at a flea-market or via online or local shopping. 

However, don't limit yourself to just a vase, any type of decorative storage container about 2 feet tall, that's quite narrow, will work.

Additional Storage Ideas for the Washroom

You can also acquire a bathroom floor storage cupboard system. As you'll see here, there are numerous designs, colors, and styles to choose from. Be sure to check them out.

Some come in extremely narrow designs (approximately 6" wide), so they can fit in that small space beside the toilet. 

Other style options are slightly larger and are being designed for corners. If your washroom has unused corner space, consider a corner storage cabinet. Most offer a small counter surface enabling you to put something decorative (or practical) on top of it.

When you're doing this year's spring cleaning, remember to think creatively when it comes to storage. In fact, if you're getting the itch to sell your home, try re-organizing a room before you jump through that very large hoop! It may even scratch that itch for change.

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Do I Really Want to Sell My Home? That is the Question in the Spring Air?

Don't Let Spring Push You Into Selling Your Home Just Because You're Getting that 'Fresh-Air Fresh-Start Itch'

Twenty-five-plus years in real estate allowed me to see firsthand the many reasons people decide to sell their homes. Believe it or not, the boredom of the environment or needing a change was one of those reasons, especially during springtime when that 'new beginning' feeling hits!

If you've ever sold a home, you've probably received the standard good advice to 'neutralize' your color schemes. The suggestions may have also included creating a consistent flow between spaces, repainting with neutral colors, de-cluttering, removing large furniture in small spaces, and limiting patterns and prints where possible. Having your home professionally staged may have also been talked about ... good advice.

However, if the only reason you're selling your home is that you're feeling the need for change, then the first thing you should do to Fully Test that urge is to rearrange a room and, if affordable, change it up by adding MORE color and interest.

Pick colors and patterns that you and your family like. Throw out 'the house selling rule book' (to a point!), and decorate in a way that reflects your personal likes. 

If you've never attempted to work with color and pattern, here is an example of choosing a patterned couch with a patterned rug. It also features a handy short video on mixing color with pattern.

When spending a lot of money isn't an option, keep the room changes simply; try these five things first:

1. Repaint the room
2. Rearrange the furniture
3. Create a new focal point
4. Add accessories
5. and sorry, clean and de-clutter

Focus on what you like, but start with 'the mood' you want to create: airy, fun, electric, cozy, serious ... you get the picture. Even if your existing pieces don't fit your mood choice, use what you add to do that task: paint, pillows, blankets, rugs, window coverings, or, if you're going all out, furniture.

If you think this is too much work, think about all the time, expense, and energy it will take to sell your home. When you're just trying to figure out what to do .. to stay or to go .. redo at least one room in the house before you make that larger choice to sell. 

If you re-decorate that one room with neutral tones only because you think that's practical for resale, you're subconsciously out the door already! So resist that and decorate that room in your own funky fashion. Give it your touch.

When you're finally ready to sell, then go neutral-mad. But remember to test yourself with this redo challenge, and ask yourself, do I really want to sell my home?

By Barbara Tremblay Cipak

Funkthishouse.com

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How to Visually Increase the Size of a Windowless Room

Last week, we talked about three affordable ways to increase the size of a room, and today, we'll talk about how to trick the mind so you won't feel caged in a windowless room.

The three previous suggestions were to use a faux window, 3D Scenery Drapes, or Mirrors. Today, we'll add three new ideas to the mix. 

Although your first choice should be a faux window, here are a few other ideas to consider:

Faux French Doors

Yes, you can easily feature double French doors in your space without so much as picking up a hammer and banging a nail into the wall!

Faux door wall graphics, usually made of easy-to-put-up vinyl or a pre-pasted material, are very effective. You'll have to read the directions and patiently approach the project, but the overall completed look makes it all worthwhile.

Suggested Tip: If you paint the walls to coincide with the actual faux doors you're putting up, you can easily create a seamless visual effect by choosing a wall color that will blend or compliment the doors. 

Animals Bursting Through Your Walls

These are so creative! Do you know anyone who has 3D animal art on their wall? Probably not, so get ready; you will make an impression when your guests see this!

By using 3D wall art to create the illusion of something busting into the room, you automatically trick the mind into believing the room has been opened to the outdoors.

This unique approach provides a decorating foundation for adding accessories; add animal pillows, throws, or rugs, and suddenly, you have a theme going!

A Faux Bookshelf

Where a real bookshelf takes up too much space in a small room, a faux bookshelf needs more space! 

If an actual faux shelf isn't your cup of tea, there are many other book wall decals you can choose from, and most have a three-dimensional look: Some feature a dog with a stack of books, others just a stack of books that look so real you'll reach out to touch them, and some are designed as sketches. Visit the link above to see examples of these.

There you have it, three more creative ideas you can use to visually increase the size of a windowless room. 

Stay Open!
by Funkthishouse.com

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Three Affordable Ways to Visually Increase the Size of a Room

With real estate at a premium in many locations and rent equally expensive, numerous apartments and homes have smaller rooms or at least one room that could be a better size. 

Don't despair; here are three affordable ways to visually increase the size of a room:

Use a Faux Window Decal

Three-dimensional wall decals come in various funky design choices, including faux windows with scenery.

Put up a fake window without the hassle of having to use wood by using vinyl wall decals instead. There is an endless choice of 'views'; choose from snow, mountains, beaches, and Halloween horror scenery! The 3D effect creates automatic depth.

Use Draperies with 3D Designs

Drapes with scenery are another option. Again, much like 3D Faux Windows, these drapes come in many landscape choices. 

Go ahead and use them in a room with no windows. Just put the drapes up and keep them closed, and they'll serve a double purpose; they create the illusion that a window is behind them, and by keeping them constantly closed, they also provide faux depth with their three-dimensional designs.

Use Mirrors

This isn't a new trick, but it's always effective. Feature a large mirror on the wall above a piece of furniture. In fact, you could also install a wall-to-wall mirror. 

If you're not interested in a large mirror, try mirrored accessories, such as a wall clock. Anything on the wall with a mirror built into it will help create depth.

Choose from these three simple suggestions, and your room will seem more significant to anyone who enters. You've tricked the eye by creating depth.

by Funkthishouse.com

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Iron and Wicker Baker's Rack With Drawers

Our Iron and Wicker Baker's Rack

Several years ago, when we were building our new house, we spent hours looking for just the right furniture to fill it. Since this (hopefully) will be the last house we ever own, it was important to us to choose what we really loved and, in many cases, what we had always talked about having in our home.

One item we had dreamed about for years was a baker's rack. The new kitchen had just the perfect wall for one, so we began our hunt. This wrought iron and wicker bakers rack with drawers caught our eye immediately. We've had it almost four years now and there's no question that we made the right choice. Here's my review.

(Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article.)

Why Choose This Baker's Rack?

Here's why I chose this particular piece of furniture for our kitchen. One, wrought iron has always been a favorite of mine, possibly because it's pretty much indestructible, plus I just like how it looks. We already had chosen wrought iron and glass coffee and end tables for the living room, plus our front door has a swirly iron-looking design, so the style fit. Really, I think it would fit any decor.

Next, I love baskets. The four wicker basket drawers not only look beautiful and add texture to the piece, they're quite roomy and, at 14 inches deep, 11 inches wide, and 8 1/2 inches tall, provide quite a bit of storage space. The drawers are sturdily built on a wire frame and are supported by a metal runner on which the drawers slide when pulled out or pushed back in. There are no rollers, but the drawers slide easily. I wouldn't load these down with anything particularly heavy but, after almost four years and plenty of use, our wicker drawers look and function as good as new.

Our baker's rack, a perfect fit between the
back door and kitchen windows.

The top shelves of the baker's rack are wire, not solid, spaced about an inch apart. Because I use the shelves to display my salt and pepper shaker collection, we chose to add a piece of our wood grain floor tile to create a solid surface. The wire surface is perfectly fine for displaying most items, but I did want to make it clear that if you intend to use those shelves for displaying very small items, you'll want to add a board or a perhaps a piece of glass to keep your treasured items from slipping through the space between the wires.

The oak-veneer counter surface above the drawers isn't fancy, but it's solid and very nice and, in our case, just happens to match our kitchen table. It's a roomy space, perfect for a cookbook collection, a cookie jar, or perhaps some larger decorative pieces you'd like to show off.

Assembly Required

Yep, as you can see in the picture the baker's rack arrived in a whole lot of very well-packaged pieces. While I'm sure I could have assembled it myself, I have a very patient husband (ahem) who managed to put the rack together with very little trouble. There was one piece that just didn't fit, though, and after a brief, friendly phone call, the manufacturer quickly shipped us a replacement piece and all was well.

Where to Buy Your Iron and Wicker Baker's Rack

When I shop for furniture online it's always where I know I'll get excellent customer service should a problem arise. Most of the time that leaves me with my two favorite sites, Walmart and Amazon, both of which carry this product. It's important to know that these two large, reputable retailers are very competitive when it comes to pricing. Today when I checked on this baker's rack the price, indeed, is identical on those two sites. For me, shipping is also free (your circumstances may differ).

So where should you buy? I'd say read both listings today, confirm costs, and choose your favorite. Always check for shipping cost and shipping speed and other nuances that might apply when shipping furniture. I think you'll be happy with your new baker's rack whichever site you choose.

So tell me. Would you choose this baker's rack? Do you enjoy shopping for furniture online? I love reading your comments and appreciate any input or insight that you care to share on the subject. Thanks for reading!

~ Susan
Meet the Reviewer

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Bakers rack photos property Susan Deppner

Posted by Susan Deppner

About the Author

Susan Deppner is a baby boomer, a cancer survivor, and a Southerner who believes in the Golden Rule. She enjoys writing about food, faith, and fitness; health, home, and holidays; people, places, pets, and patriotism, and more. Follow Susan on Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest.

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Safety Floors that Are Practical and Decorative

I Was Introduced to this Idea by an Accident while watching a TV Show! 

Safety Flooring with Style

The TV Show featured a family preparing to cover their gorgeous hardwood floors with safer hardwood look-a-like interlocking foam tiles.

When they opened the box and started pulling out the pieces, I was impressed by how closely the color matched their home's hardwood floors.

You Can View Flooring Styles Here

After seeing it completely placed over the top of their natural hardwood, I was convinced I missed out when my kids were young! What a fantastic safety solution for kids without compromising design style!

These safety floors did not detract from their stunning decor. The playroom looked like any other main rooms in the home, except it was filled with toys.

Choose Interlocking Foam Floor Tiles that Match Your Existing Flooring

You can find light, dark, grey, black, and more hardwood-look-a-like foam flooring colors. When you've spent a great deal of time and money decorating a room, foam tiles help to maintain the look and structure of your space while simultaneously serving as a safety feature.

Given the growing number of people caught in the 'sandwich generation' (those caring for both kids and seniors simultaneously), safety flooring can go a long way as an investment. Best of all, when you're finished needing it, simply remove it.

We're no longer limited to choosing those multi-colored ABC interlocking foam floors for protection and safety; now, we have this incredibly practical look-a-like hardwood foam as an option.

You can read more about Interlocking Foam Floors here at Funkthishouse.com.

by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Owner, Funkthishouse.com

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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An Easy Way to Organize Your Linen Closet

Photo by Funkthishouse.com

If Opening Your Linen Closet Causes Heart Palpitations, It's Time for a Spring Sort!

If you have a big family, and many different sizes of beds, as we do, then this practical linen-sorting tip can help.

Here's How I Solved the Problem of Mixing Up the Various Sizes of Linens for each Room in the Home:

In our washroom we have a closet we're currently using as a Linen Closet. It doesn't matter where your linen closet is located, so long as it's large enough to use sorting bins.

We have five bedrooms and four sons. Each bedroom has a different sized bed; double, queen, single, king ... so my linen closet was ALWAYS a disaster! Plus I also found myself unfolding and re-folding sheets after grabbing the wrong sized sheets for a bed!

One Day, I HAD Enough and decided to find a way to organize the closet so that finding the right sheets for the right bed wouldn't be such a hassle!

NOW Each room has it's own storage bucket with the respective sized Bedding in it. You could also put their bedding in their bin in their bedroom closet, but that doesn't work for us.

By Funkthishouse.com

First of all, I know the sheets would end up in a heap, and second there wasn't any more space to do it that way.

You can see by the photo that each child has it's own storage container with their linens in it, with the second shelf reserved for towels.

The extra containers have pillow cases in them, divided up by size - One container has 'double/queen sized pillow cases' and one of container has 'king sized pillow cases'.

Our master bedroom actually has two containers - one container holds the 'flannel sheets' and the other holds the summer 'cotton sheets'. Also, on the very bottom of the closet I keep a laundry basket for the boys to put their dirty clothes in.

I've lightly written the boys names on each of their respective containers so that I can quickly find the sheets for the bedroom I need.

It's working out very well. Although, sometimes I do put the wrong sheets in a bucket and have to correct it.

It is a bit of a pain to take the buckets out that are on the very top, but they're the ones I use less frequently. Plus I prefer it this way over the mess that it once was.

This was easy to do; just measure the width and depth of the shelves, decide how many containers you need and then be sure you pick containers that will fit nicely on the shelves.

PS: Keep the containers OPEN to easily reach in and grab bedding without having to open and close them each time

by Barbara Tremblay Cipak
Owner - Funkthishouse.com

Added Bonus: Check out creative laundry room sorting tips for a small space here !

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Review of Land's End Twin Extra Long Flannel Sheets

Cold Weather Makes Me Want Flannel Sheets

It seems that as soon as I bought my new REM extra long twin bed during the hot autumn, the weather turned cold. The only sheets I had to fit it were the cotton percale sheets that came with the bed. They were just right for hot weather, but as it turned cold, I wanted to find heavy flannel twin extra long sheets. After a long search that included Amazon and J.C.Penny and some sponsored Amazon links, I finally found the quality twin extra long flannel sheets I wanted at Land's End.  I will review them here and compare them to others I've looked at.

I Have Trusted Land's End for Decades

I have always trusted Land's End. I've been buying from their mail order catalog for about thirty years. I have never had a problem with their quality products or their customer service. I have bought flannel shirts, mock turtleneck tees, dresses, and much more, and always been happy. I confess that these days I usually buy from their sale section. There is always something there I can use at a price I can afford. I was very happy to find my extra long twin sheets there, since many places, even online, don't have them. Unfortunately, as I look today, these sheets aren't on sale anymore, but the same quality sheets are still available. In fact, they have improved the quality. 

Land's End Extra Long Flannel Sheets

My review of the Land's End Extra Long Twin Flannel Sheets I Bought

When my flannel sheets came, I was not disappointed. The fitted sheet fit snugly when I put it on my thick new mattress. There was room to spare, so the sheet doesn't start to come off like the one my mom had bought for the bed I was replacing. It was also extra long, but the mattress was half the thickness. My new mattress is about ten inches high. The sheet can fit a mattress (combined with mattress covers and memory foam pads) as thick as sixteen inches. I no longer have to push the sheet back in place after I get up in the middle of the night.

I was wondering what would be the best view to show you of my new flannel sheet set. ( See photo at top.) I decided to show it just the way it looks when I hop into it at night. The sheets are beechnut color. I  took this photo with natural light. My adjustable bed makes any sheet bunch up a bit in the middle since it's normally concave there when I sleep. I have slept on this for several days. That Bedtime Bliss Sleep Mask on the pillow helps me sleep late in the morning after the sun makes my room bright.

The only thing I've noticed on the downside is that the pillowcase is harder to get on after I washed it and put it through the dryer. The pillow that came with my bed is thicker than the average standard pillow and I had to fight with the pillow a bit to get the case on. I've had this trouble with other standard pillowcases on down pillows, as well. Flannel doesn't slide on as easily as cotton percale or other smooth fabrics. I'd rather fight a bit with the pillow and be warm and snug than use slipperier percale. The cotton flannel is triple-brushed to make it extra soft and fuzzy as flannel should be.

Some reviewers complained about pilling but I haven't noticed any, and neither did most of the other reviewers. Flannel does have more lint than percale does, but the pilling can be lessened by washing the sheets before putting them on the bed. I always do that anyway before using new sheets. If for any reason you discover you are unhappy with anything you purchase from Land's End, they will refund your money – period. You cannot beat their guarantee. I liked these sheets so well I ordered another set.

My Price Comparison Research on Other Sites

 

If you want to check Amazon and compare quality and prices on extra long twin flannel sheets, here's a link to a set I especially like for winter because of its printed snowflake design on heavy 100% cotton fabric. Unfortunately, it's hard to compare quality, since different manufacturers use different measurements. The Land's End extra long twin sheets I ordered have 5 ounces of cotton flannel per square yard and the fitted sheets fit mattresses as deep as 16 inches. The flat sheet measures 70" x 110." The Amazon sheet description doesn't include weight per square yard and fits a mattress 15 inches deep. Amazon's extra long twin flat sheet in this set is 70" x 104." The Land's End sheets seem longer than I really need so I wouldn't miss those extra six inches at all. 

During a recent sale, I went back to J.C. Penny and bought the blue and white snowflake pattern you see if you follow the link. It's still on sale as I write this on December 17, 2016. If that sale expires there will probably be another one. These sheets aren't as high quality as the Land's End sheets, but they are still satisfactory. They are the same size as the sheets at Amazon, so smaller than my Land's End sheets. 

Recently I discovered Linen Bargains. Their prices on quality extra long twin sheets and all other sheets are comparable to those found on Amazon. I loved their Christmas designs, and they also had solid colors. Their site provides metric specifications which you can compare to Amazon and Land's End sheets. They do have good buys. 

I highly recommend Land's End's flannel bedding in any size you need. Some places may offer something that appears similar a little cheaper, but I know from years of dealing with Land's End that I will get my money's worth in value. I also know if it turns out something is not what I expected I can return it with no hassle. If you haven't got a set of cozy warm flannel sheets, I urge you to get some from Land's End today. The sale I took advantage of may be over when you read this, but there is normally always something on sale. Even at regular prices, you get value for your money. 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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Bunk Beds With Stairs and Storage

For those who have a large family, bunk beds with stairs and storage are ideal for combining practical space saving with creative and unique designs

Most of us are learning to go vertical to save space, especially when we have kids who share a room. 

Well there's no need to settle for just a standard bunk bed or twin bed system any longer; you can combine beds with dressers and desks and save space all at the same time.

If you're living in an apartment you'll love the idea of bunk beds with stairs and storage! Even a very small room can benefit from vertical decor.

Here are Several Styles of Bunk Beds to Consider when trying to Save Space:

1. Twin over Twin with stairs/desks/
2. Twin over Double with stairs/desk
3. 3 in 1 Beds - Twin over Twin/Double with a Trundle

There's no need to look at an 8ft by 10ft space and think

Loft Beds for Adults

horizontally! Here are some visual tips to help you along the vertical decorating process:

1. Measure the room or gain a sense of it's size before you start anything
2. Determine which wall would best suit a Bunk Bed system
3. Assess whether a bunk bed system with stairs would interfere with the flow of the room
4. If the staircase is positioned out of the path of the door, and wouldn't block the closet or window, that should be the place you decide to work with
5. Get the measurements of the bunk bed units you like best
6. Cut a piece of string the length of each side of the bunk bed system - that string will be used on the floor to create a visual aid of the area it will take up
7. Don't forget to mark the height of the unit on the wall (in chalk or a piece of masking tape) 
8. Be sure that the bunk will be positioned away from any ceiling fans or light fixtures
9. Now stand back and look at the area the string on the floor and the marker on the wall take up, and decide whether the bed system you're choosing will work
10. If you've decided upon a 3 in 1 bed system (a Trundle too), don't forget to allow for floor clearance so the trundle bed can be pulled out

In Regards to Dressers:

If the unit you're selecting has built-in dressers, be sure to allow for clearance for when the drawers are pulled out. 

Here's a Useful Tip (One I've implemented in every bedroom of my own home)

How to Get Use from Your Old Dressers!

If you find that the built-in dressers of a bunk bed system aren't enough, and you don't want to buy additional dressers, but have old ones - put the old dressers in the closet. 

By using your own old dressers in your closets, you'll get a closet organizer without having to spend big bucks having one custom designed! 

This is easy to do! Measure the dresser and the closet first to be sure the depth of the dresser will fit inside the closet. Position the dresser inside the closet so that when the closet doors are opened, there's clearance to open the dresser drawers. You may have to be creative to get everything to fit neatly, but that's the fun part!

If you're fortunate enough to have a walk-in closet, they're a perfect place to use old dressers.

You Can Find a Wide Selection of Bunk Beds with Stairs, Loft Beds, and Space Saving Beds Here 

Note: The author may receive a commission from purchases made using links found in this article. “As an Amazon Associate, Ebay (EPN) and/or Esty (Awin) Affiliate, I (we) earn from qualifying purchases.”

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