Sunday, October 21, 2018
5 Creative Household Pillowcase Hacks
Sunday, September 16, 2018
5 Items for the Home to Ward off Evil Spirits
O.k. not really, but just in case here's a review of items for the home that are said to protect your humble abode from all things evil.
1. Horseshoe Home Décor Accessories
When it comes to protecting your home, the best place to put a horseshoe is on your front door as a door knocker. However, if you're unable to place it on the door, go ahead and place them inside your home. A horseshoe in the home is said to attract good fortune, and in doing so, evil gets knocked on it's butt. Some people believe it's better luck to hang the horseshoe with the ends pointing up so that all the good energy has a place to pool inside the horseshoe.
2. Use Cinnamon Scents in Home
Did you know that Cinnamon is associated with prosperity. Besides baking, you can incorporate cinnamon in your home using cinnamon oil or cinnamon sticks. During the holiday season include cinnamon scented pine cones in a center piece, or decorate using cinnamon sticks in wreaths. Place cinnamon Crystal Allies Materials: 1lb Bulk Rough Black Tourmaline Crystals from Brazil - Large Raw Natural Stones Reiki Crystal sticks in all your wreaths. If you don't want to see the sticks, simply tuck them in so they're not visible.
3. Feature a Rosemary Wreath
For those who enjoy the history of witches, witches believed that hanging rosemary on your front door would ward off burglars and intruders. It was also used as a way to rid a room of illness during the time of the plague. If nothing else at all, between the rosemary and cinnamon in your wreaths, your home will smell lovely.
4. Display Gemstones Throughout Your Home
The topic of gemstones is a rather in-depth one. Feature in a centerpiece or in a lovely decorative bowl the following gemstones to ward off bad energy: Tourmaline, Agate, Emerald, Labradorite, Black Onyx, Peridot and Emerald. If you need to pick one, choose Tourmaline as it's said to be the most effective for dark energy.
5. Smudge Your Home With Sage
I know a few people who do this in their home. It's derived from the Native American belief that the smoke from sage will cleanse a space and clear negative stagnant energy. Spread the sage clockwise around your home and while doing so, visualize positive intentions as you clear every room. Reiki Practitioners are known to clear the energy in their home or office with Sage after a session with a client. It clears the energy for the next client so their treatment can begin anew from a cleansed room.
Friday, September 14, 2018
How to Easily Paint & Refinish Metal Outdoor Furniture
For the last few seasons, our outdoor furniture has started looking worn and tired. Metal outdoor furniture is too expensive to throw away and replace, but it was definitely time to restore the beauty of the pieces.
Last spring my husband started refinishing our outdoor furniture one piece at a time. He choose our wrought iron table as his first project. With a few cans of black Rust-Oleum and less than an hour, our outdoor table looked brand new again!
Since then, he has refinished the chairs that match that table and the whole set is beautiful again.
Last week, he refinished our wrought iron glider. I love all of our outdoor furniture and appreciate its durability. But, that glider is the one I use the most. I am thrilled to have it restored to its original beauty.
My new slogan for wrought iron metal outdoor furniture: Restore, Don't Replace!
Refinished Wrought Iron Patio Table & Chairs He also painted my little ghost in the background with a can of White Rust-Oleum - Getting him ready for Halloween |
How to Refinish Wrought Iron Outdoor Furniture
Time: 45 minsCost: $25.00
Compared to the Cost of a New Glider: $300.00
Because the refinishing of the metal table and chairs had been so successful, when my husband said he was going to refinish the glider, I grabbed my camera. I wanted to make sure I had everything I needed to tell you exactly how to repaint your metal outdoor furniture too.
Items Needed:
- Cans of Rust-Oleum
- Plastic Drop Cloth
- Tent Pegs
- Plastic Gloves
- Long Sleeve Shirt
- Old Shoes & Old Painting Clothes
Step 2: Cover an area in the yard with a large, thick plastic drop cloth (2.0 mil preferred)
Step 3: Use tent pegs to hold the drop cloth down. We used old army tent pegs at all four corners, but you could use bricks instead to weigh down the corners.
Step 4: Shake up the Rust-Oleum spray paint
Step 5: Turn the piece over and start spraying the underside
Step 6: Turn the piece right side up and spray the entire surface from every angle in order to cover it completely and evenly
It took about 45 minutes and 4 cans of Rust-Oleum to spray paint the glider. That short amount of time spent renewing our glider will give us many more years to enjoy the beloved glider. Plus, the Rust-Oleum spray paint helps to prevent rust.
Additional Spray Painting Tips:
Wear disposable gloves (see products below)
Wear long sleeves to protect your skin
You may need to wear protective eyewear and disposable masks
Keep the spray can moving as you are painting to avoid runs.
You should do all of your painting on any individual piece within an hour.
This spray paint, in our experience, tends to self- level any heavy areas of application as it drys, within reason.
Let the furniture piece completely dry for 24 hrs. before use.
My Wrought Iron Glider Beautifully Restored |
Project Items Needed for Refinishing Metal Outdoor Furniture
Rust-Oleum 245196 Universal All Surface Spray Paint, 12 oz, Gloss BlackCheck Price Trimaco 04301 Slip Resistant Dropcloth Stay Put Vinyl Drop Cloth, 9' x 12'Check Price 12 Pack Tent Stakes, 7075 Ground Metal Camping Aluminum Tent PegsCheck Price Dealmed Brand Nitrile Medical Grade Exam Gloves, Disposable, Latex-Free, 180 Count, Size Extra LargeCheck Price
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Sunday, September 2, 2018
How to Position Twin Beds to Create Separate Areas in a Room
The standard room layout for twin beds, is to place them side by side with a nightstand in-between.
However, there are creative ways to define areas in a shared room.
Below are three typical bedroom shapes you'll find in most homes: Rectangular, Square and L-Shaped.
Furnishings for a room with twin beds tend to be two beds, two nightstands, two desks, one or two dressers and or storage trunks and accessories.
Tip: If the room has a decent sized walk-in closet, put the dressers inside of it. You can place dressers under a section of clothes, and use the area above the dresser to hang smaller items.
1. Suggested Layout for Twin Beds in an L-Shaped Bedroom:
An L-Shaped room is the easiest floor plan to distinguish separate sleeping areas.
This floor plan makes the twin beds appear almost hidden to each other. Both areas have a nightstand, a desk and in this design a shared dresser. Again, if possible, put the dresser in the closet.
Floor Plan Layout by Funkthishouse |
2. Suggested Layout for Twin Beds in a Rectangular Shaped Bedroom:
With a rectangular shaped room the tendency is to assume the beds have to be positioned side-by-side. That's absolutely not the case.
If the room is narrow, and doesn't allow for a lot of furniture, then use twin sized beds with drawers built in the bottom. That way you've eliminated the need for a dresser. Or again, if there's a walk-in closet, put the dresser in the closet.
When space is very tight, choose beds with built-in drawers. Here are a few examples:
Remember, if you decide to get beds with drawers, a nightstand positioned incorrectly can block the opening of those drawers. Twin beds with storage can also come in a large number of designs including some with storage in the headboard. If the headboard doesn't offer built-in lights, add creative strip lighting.
Floor Plan Layout by Funkthishouse.com |
3. Suggested Layout for Twin Beds in a Square Shaped Room:
This layout will depend upon where the doors and windows are positioned in the room. However, you can still create defined areas by thinking outside the box.
In a square room, our design instinct is to place twin beds side-by-side. But don't let that thinking stop you from setting up defined areas. Even square rooms can have separate areas for twin beds.
In the floor plan below you'll notice the room was split in half. The position of the main door allowed for that. Essentially one half of the room is allocated to one twin bed area and the other half for the second bed.
In this design there wasn't room for a dresser, but as mentioned above, there are multiple ways to accommodate storage. Here you'll see a storage trunk at the end of each of the beds. The beds can have drawers, or a dresser can go inside of a large closet.
Floor Plan Layout by Funkthishouse.com |
BONUS TIP: Small Bedrooms and Selling Your Home
During my real estate years frequent comments were about bedroom size. Most people feel that an empty room is larger than a furnished room. It isn't.
An empty room looks small.
People tend to need a visual to gage what will fit into a space. If the room is small, use bed and wall storage to illustrate how efficient the space can be.
Measurements to give you a sense of bed sizes and space:
- Standard king size beds measure 76 inches wide by 80 inches long. (6.33ft by 6.66ft)
- California king size beds measure 72 inches wide by 84 inches long. (6ft by 7ft)
- Standard queen size beds measure 60 inches wide by 80 inches long. (5ft by 6.66ft)
- California queen size beds measure 60 inches wide by 84 inches long. (5ft by 7ft)
- Standard double size beds measure 54 inches wide by 75 inches long. (4ft by 6.25ft)
- Standard twin size beds measure 39 inches wide by 75 inches long (3.29ft by 6.25ft)
- Extra long twin size beds measure 39 inches wide by 80 inches long. (3.29ft by 6.66ft)
Sunday, August 12, 2018
How to Get Your Bed to Look Like a Professional Decorator Made It
Photo Design by Funkthishouse.com
photos via Pixabay
|
If we're being honest, we tend to keep our Comforter/Duvet Sets for much too long without changing them. When we're stuck with the same bedding, we're stuck with the same drab look.
Beyond the bedding color, pattern and design, there are certain items that can give your bedroom a pick-me-up.
Below are a list of basic items or variations of them that you'll need in order for your bed to look like a high priced decorator assembled it.
Duvets Versus Comforters - Which One is Better?
With a Duvet, you buy the fluffy insert separately and it's the quality fluffiness that gives your bed it's professional look. The benefit of buying an insert separately is that you can choose one that's long lasting and of higher quality: The higher the quality the longer it will stay fluffy.
Since it's an insert, you can change the actual duvet cover, and thus the look of your room, anytime you want.
Next you'll want duvet clips to secure the Insert to the Cover so it's free of lumps, bumps and wrinkles.
Comforters are all-in-ones, in that the comforter and insert are one piece thus eliminating the need to buy an insert or duvet clips. Also, they usually come with pillowcases, a comforter, a bed skirt and sometimes bed sheets.
However, the downside to a comforter is that if the quality is lower (and many times they can be), it will lose it's fluffiness and start to look flat on the bed (like a bed sheet does).
Here's an 8 Piece COMFORTER Set (Not a Duvet Set) Rochelle Pinched Pleat Gray Comforter Set Queen
A flat comforter will take away from that professional look you're going for, unless of course you're aiming for a simple almost Japanese look to your room.
Pillows Finish the Bed's Look:
Have you noticed that a bed with a duvet or comforter looks decoratively unfinished with only two pillows on the bed? Especially on a king size bed.
To give a bed that professional decorator look, you'll want to have at least four standard or king size pillows, and then finish the pillow-look with a few decorator pillows.
Bolsters also work. They're a long oval pillow you can use against the bed frame or the wall for the other pillows to lean against.
They do exactly what their name says, 'they bolster' the pillows in front so you have a fuller look of pillows on the bed. If you don't have a bed frame, they're also a way to get pillows off the wall. However, even if I have a bolster, and I do, I still use 4 pillows.
Make sure the pillows are fluffy as well. Flat, over-used pillows will make the bed look drab. So if your pillows aren't fluffy and you can't go out and buy more, put two old pillows, or even three old pillows inside one pillowcase. I've done this several times and it works well.
I've overstuffed the pillowcases at the back, and put two new fluffy pillows at the front. That way I only had to buy two new pillows instead of four, saving a bit of cash while still maintaining that fluffy full look.
Either they can exactly match the duvet or they can be complimentary in pattern and color to the duvet.
Bed Sheets - They Don't Have to Match the Duvet or Comforter
This is misunderstood by many bed makers.
If you already own bedsheets that are complimentary to the duvet/comforter set you purchased, then use them!
That way you can focus on buying the most important elements to making your bed look professional: A high quality duvet insert, duvet clips and at least four pillows, decorator cushions and a bed skirt if you don't already have one.
Use an existing bed skirt if you have one that's complimentary! Again, it doesn't have to match exactly.
- You have your fluffy bedding - either a comforter set or a duvet set with a quality insert and duvet clips
- You've got a bed skirt to hide the box spring
- You've got at least four standard (or King) pillows and a couple of decorative pillows.
However, Making the Bed is Where it Will Get that Final Professional Look:
- Fold down the top part of the duvet so the reverse side is showing by about six to twelve inches. You can even fold it down a couple of feet if you have a lot of pillows and you want some of the bed sheets exposed because of their design and quality. However, the standard fold down of the top portion of the duvet/comforter is about one foot.
- Pull the wrinkles out of the comforter/duvet
- Make sure the comforter/duvet is even all the way around
- Details matter, don't let the bed sheets hang past the duvet cover/comforter on the sides or ends. If they're too long, tuck them in
There you have it! Think fluffy and you'll nail it.
Sunday, July 29, 2018
Egyptian Cotton Sheets Really Are THAT Awesome!
Photo by Funkthishouse.com - A Personal Review |
The wrinkles really don't bother me. Of course I googled how to get the wrinkles out, but have no intention of doing any of the suggestions. For my taste, they really don't wrinkle enough to worry about it.
So in summary, all the hype you've heard about 1000 Thread Count Egyptian Sheets, in my opinion, is justified; total comfort!
Monday, July 9, 2018
Reviewing Handmade Rag Rugs
Handmade denim rag rugs by StudioAtRedTopRanch |
StudioAtRedTopRanch on Etsy
This Etsy shop offers hand-woven placements, table runners, and rugs. The rugs are my personal favorite.
Tracy is the owner/artist at StudioAtRedTopRanch. About the rugs, she writes:
"I began making handmade rag rugs as a way to use up leftover and unloved fabric. As I studied rugmaking, it became a way to learn and preserve an art developed by women who made-do by repurposing clothes and curtains because they had no other materials available..."
One of the reasons I love her rugs is because they look a little more "finished" than my crocheted rag rugs do. I guess because hers are woven they lay flatter and looked more finished than my lumpy, thick rugs.
Another reason I really like these rugs is because they are handmade - but didn't take me weeks to make! I enjoy making my own crafts but I just don't make much time for crafts and I have the attention span of a flea.
One more reason I like these handmade items is because I like to support women who have small, home businesses. Besides, when someone is making something they love, and something that is meaningful to them, the quality is so much better.
These rugs, runners, and placements are perfect gifts for people who have a country farmhouse or rustic cabin living style. Or a perfect gift for yourself - adding a touch of "home" in your favorite room. My favorite "color" (and style) is the denim rug but she offers many colors to choose from.
some of the color options at StudioAtRedTopRanch |
Sunday, May 6, 2018
8 Creative Flower Planter Ideas for Inside or Outside
Have a lot of broken down cars? Or just one?
There it is, a car planter, with the body as Art
|
A Large Cup of Flowers |
Sunday, April 22, 2018
3 Easy Ways to Cover Wall Imperfections Without Painting
In fact, if the walls have apparent marks or flaws to cover, then a durable wallpaper, like Grass Cloth, should be considered.
You can get any pattern, scenery, or design in vinyl or paper, creating virtually any artistic look you want.
Getting started is the hardest part. Look around your room and decide what design would look best on your wall: geometric, bricks, or wood ... and then find the look you want in easy-to-install faux art.
Put up the drapery rod and add the artistic scenery drapes to cover your wall, floor-to-ceiling, and wall-to-wall, and you've solved your problem! Easy peasy, lemon squeezy.
Sunday, April 1, 2018
Three Unique Kids Bedroom Decor Ideas - Unconventional, Practical and Fun
Glow in the Dark Area Rugs Here |
Picket Fence Wall Decals Here |
Today there are an endless supply of wall decals to choose from. Decorating unconventionally is much easier these days than it was twenty or so years ago.
Zip Up Bedding |
Zip-Up bedding is perfect for kids who don't like to make their beds.
If you're tired of going into a room with a messy bed, then get the kids zip-up bedding. They're easier on mom or dad, as the kids can easily do their own beds.
Zip bedding is also an option for kids who may fall out of bed or who tend to kick the covers off at night.
Hard to make beds like Bunks or Lofts are an ideal choice for zip up bedding. The top sheet and fitted sheet are joined together making them easy to go on and off as one piece. You never have to worry about tucking sheets in, especially hard-to-get-at sides.
Since zip-up bedding comes in many designs and colors you can use them as the main bedding by just adding some decorative pillows, or put a comforter set over top. You could also fold a lovely comforter at the end of the bed making the designs in the zip-up sheets the main decorative print for the room.
Sunday, March 25, 2018
Five Easter Home Decor Ideas
Easter Home Décor Product Items Here - by Funkthishouse.com |
Let's review five Easter home décor ideas that are both traditional and unconventional.
1. Be Unconventional and Decorate a Dollhouse for Easter
Heads-up Grandparents, this is for you! Mom and Dad too of course. It's a great idea for parents (Grand and all) who don't have time to decorate the 'real' house for Easter.
Get a dollhouse and decorate it, it gives the kids something to play with and something to decorate.
Place the dollhouse in a central location, perhaps on a table in the foyer, and decorate it with Easter related characters, eggs, fun dollhouse lights, or have the kids make items for it. Get Easter cut-out books for the kids to decorate with, or just make décor items from scratch.
2. Decorate the Table for Easter
Our dining room table or kitchen table sits ready to be used as the focal point for the special occasions yet we tend to avoid using it.
The problem with using a table to decorate is ensuring it's still usable for eating. But hey, no problem, just keep it simple.
Cover your table(s) with an Easter themed tablecloth or Easter placemats and feature a lovely Easter centerpiece.
More Easter Fun by ReviewThis |
3. Place Easter Bouquets or Easter Ornaments in the Main Rooms - Add an Easter Wreath
The easiest way to add a touch of Easter, is to include a bouquet or ornament in the room. You don't have to go with a standard flower bouquet (although that's always lovely) ... try an Easter egg tree or a lighted Easter display ornament.
Add an Easter wreath to the front door or add several inside the house. Place one or two in the foyer and of course find a place for one in the living or dining rooms. Again be sure to scroll down and view some examples.
4. Easter Wall Art - Add Fun Creative Pieces to the Wall for Spring
The nice thing about Easter wall art is that it works for both spring and summer. Get a piece or two and put it up in the foyer, living room or dining room for both seasons. You'll have Easter covered and the fun continues through all the warm weather.
5. Easter Pillows and Throw Blankets
The standard décor pieces for a seasonal change are pillows and blankets. They're easy to display and easy to put away. If you have pillow covers, you can just cover your existing pillows. That's a particularly popular way to change out pillows, as pillow liners are easy to store.
Changing your throws and pillows to pastels or soft tones also helps to lighten up a room giving it that fresh, airy appeal.
See the Products Here
Happy Easter :)
Sunday, March 18, 2018
5 Ways to Brighten Up Your Home - Get Ready for Spring and Summer the Easy Way
Brighten Up Your Space - Blonde Wood Flooring Opens Up the Room- Photo Via Pixabay |
Go From Drab to Fab
When a total renovation is out of the question, you can still try any one of these five simple ideas to lighten and brighten your home:
1. Update Your Light Bulbs
You can acquire light bulbs in various shades. If you haven't tried 'Daylight' bulbs you'll want to give them a go. They emulate natural outdoor lighting and come in a number of styles, such as traditional, candle, spotlight, miniature and more. They're also useful for those who suffer from seasonal affective disorder (SAD).
2. If Your Room is Already Lighter in Shades, Add Some Black or Charcoal Accents
Sounds weird doesn't it? However the darker accents help the lighter aspects to pop and become front and center in the room. Add them in subtle areas, not as major pieces. As example the book spines in a very white cabinet could be black (or darker colors), subtle wood trim in the room could be black or charcoal, as well as a few black picture frames. However the most effective use of this darker shade is in items that are thin or long - chair legs, long arms on lamps, or the pole of a floor lamp.
3. Wall Mount Lamps
These work well in bedrooms above the end table. Choose lamps with a light cheerful lamp shade and a dark base that attaches to the wall. The light lamp shade on a slightly contrasting wall can help encourage that blended feeling a bright room often exhibits. As an example, a coastal blue wall color and lovely large white lamp shade with a black arm and mount can look outstanding.
4. If Draperies Aren't Needed, Skip them, or Use them to Frame the Window
If you live in an private area and can leave your drapes open most of the time, then do that. If you plan on never or rarely ever closing the drapes, then you can either place a light drapery panel on each end, or go ahead and put a full set of drapes, essentially left open. Choose black or charcoal drapes to frame the window ends .... with white trim and black panels on each side, you'll add to that linear look of dark accents explained in point number two.
5. The Most Obvious: Decorate Using White
White reflects light back into the room. It doesn't absorb color. If you want to have the lightest room possible, paint the walls and ceiling white, keep the floors as light as possible and kick it up to another level of brightness by using white accents, lamps and even furnishings. In the case of a bedroom, this is a fairly easy project to tackle; white bedding, white rugs, white dressers, white end tables, and white lamps. Once you've tackled the main areas, then add light pops of color in metallic, gold or chrome.
There you have it, five simple ways to brighten up your home. Scroll to view these white items to add to a home:
If you decide these suggestions are too complicated, or too much work, just change the light bulbs, open the drapes and give the room a good clean. You could also temporarily remove dark area rugs for spring and summer. Exposed floors provide a lovely consistent flow through a space, and thus removing rugs can add to that open, crisp, bright design.
Sunday, March 11, 2018
20 Easy Ways to Get Your Home Ready for Spring
Photo via Pixabay - Flowers, Gardening - Clearing the Yard for Spring |
For many of us, spring brings on an itch that's not allergy related; the itch for change. Even if you're nodding your head in the negative right now, think about it ..... you've more than likely made small changes at the start of spring without knowing it; cleaning closets, washing bedding ... you know, our automatic routine that's inspired by fresh air and open windows. There's something healing about spring changes.
Here are 20 Changes You Can Make (or have made) to Brighten Your Home for Spring - Most Don't Cost a Dime (See them below the photo)
Photo Via Pixabay - Minimalism for Spring |
- Wash and freshen up the bedsheets, bedspreads and or curtains
- Change the bedsheets from flannel to cotton
- Clear out your closets
- Put away the winter clothes and pull out your summer wear
- Clear out your yard and garden - tidy it up
- Wash your windows
- Open your windows to do an air exchange
- Lighten up the room by removing area rugs to expose the wood floors. This simple technique will give you that fresh open feeling for the spring.
- Remove your usual accessories and replace them with simple fresh spring accents
- Think Green - add an abundance of plants - not just one - put multiple plants in multiple areas
- Freshen the home with new scents - replace winter cinnamon candles with lemon, citrus and laundry candles
- Dress up your table (kitchen, sunroom) - Bring out a bright and cheerful table cloth and feature a lovely arrangement of spring flowers, vases and candles
Photo via Pixabay - Add Fresh Flowers - Cover your existing pillows with spring themed pillow covers
- If changing your bedding set to a spring theme is possible, go for it
- Add one new spring themed fun focal point piece to a room for the spring - a light fixture, a piece of art, new pillows, an oversized floor plant
- If you're planning to re-do a room, go lighter in textures, wall colors and furnishings
- If you're a lover of color, find a small room (an entry way or a washroom) and paint it in a bright lacquered color. Be sure you know how powerful this will be before tackling the project. If you have a room with high ceilings - even better! Also, in a larger room you could paint one wall in a bright lacquered paint. However, if your wall has a lot of flaws, stay away from this kind of paint, it tends to show every flaw!
- Paint a small area in your kitchen with chalkboard paint to help create an outdoor café feel
- Add floral prints! Don't be afraid of floral - it's not just your grandmother's favorite. Floral prints can work in moderation, especially as an accent
- Work to make your rooms more open and inviting - move your furniture around - a tip to remember - ensure there's a clear pathway through the room, to the doorways. With that in mind, you'll consider the rooms flow without thinking about it.
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