3 Kooky Affordable Rugs You Can Give as a Gift

Original gifts come in all shapes and sizes. If you've been looking for a creative gift idea, rugs make an excellent choice.

An area rug can be used in any part of the home or office and are generally something people look upon as a perk or something they never get around to buying for themselves.

Accessories complete a room's look, and rugs contribute considerably.

A Hopscotch Area Rug

In reviewing area rugs, the first crucial consideration is determining if they blend into the décor of the room. If it's a gift, you'll want to be sure there's an appropriate space for it and also have a sense of whether the colors blend with the recipient's home décor.

Give a hopscotch rug to a child as a gift. It will add to their room's décor and provide physical fun at the same time. 

A Rug Featuring Funny Words

Does someone in your life enjoy quips, jokes, or one-liners? Consider this cheeky quote rug if they do. People who like to wear t-shirts with 'words' on them may appreciate this functional home décor accessory that doubles as a conversation piece.

Few people would consider giving this goofy but pretty rug as a gift, thus making you the original sort they always thought you were.

If you're certain a quote rug would be well received, they also make a funny and useful Housewarming Gift. Best of all, the quote rug featured here is quite affordable, with a price under fifty dollars at the time of writing.

A Lemon Lime Rug - For Real

You'll probably generate a belly laugh from the recipient of this kooky gift. It's different but ideal for several areas in the home: the porch, a sunroom, a citrus themed space, a child's room, a playroom, and, of course, the kitchen.

Get three or four lemon lime rugs and position them all over the room. Put them under end tables, a coffee table, or in front of chairs.

When the theme of your space screams bright, open, airy, and crisp, a citrus rug is ideal.

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Three Funky Tatami Floor Seats - Check these Out

More Info on the Lazy Mouse Tatami Sofa Seat Here

Tatami floor seats are a type of Floor Mat used in Japanese style rooms.

Of course today's Tatami seats aren't like the traditional ones made of rice straw or wood chips.

These funky seating choices have expanded into artsy designs and styles and are mostly made of foam materials.

If you're looking to for a unique gift, Tatami floor seats can be quite affordable. The smaller funky seats are lower in price than the featured  soft cute lazy mouse bed.

When you click the link below the photos you'll get additional product detail including the price.

Lazy Mouse Tatami Sofa Seat

This comfy squeezable bed is made of foam and velvet. It's the perfect spot to read a book with the kids or to snuggle up and watch a family movie.

Put one in the family room for the kids and have it available as an alternative sleeping spot for company. Use it as an extra bed when the kids have party sleepovers.

The Tatami sofa seat is more expensive than a chair floor seat so it makes for an elaborate but very useable gift.

Tatami Chair Seat Found Here - Multiple Color Choices

Soft Handrail Tatami Chair Seat

If price and space are equally an issue, be sure to check out the price of this funky Tatami chair. It comes in six color choices and at the time of typing this, is under fifty dollars.

For a girls room or in a games room, these floor chairs are ideal for reading or gaming. If a full-blown gaming chair isn't in the cards, then these make a practical substitute.

You can also use them on a chair as a chair pad. Their dual purpose makes them a practical home décor accessory.

Tatami Funky Toast Chair - More Info Here

Funky Tatami Toast Seat

You're reading that correctly - It's a Tatami seat that looks like two pieces of toast.

When a regular gift just won't cut it, but something usable and practical is needed, this funky chair works.

These fun seats make an excellent addition to a media room. When regular extra seating is just too expensive, include a few of these on the floor and you'll have your problem affordably solved.

Best of all, they're portable. Move them from room to room as you need too and always have an extra comfy seat to offer company.

The cover of this seat is polyester, removable and washable so don't hesitate to use it whenever needed. Again, it makes an excellent gaming seat or just let the little ones watch their cartoons as they relax on a piece of toast.

Happy funky decorating!

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5 Tips to Consider when Creating a Pink Themed Room in the Home

How to Create a Pink Room for Adults

Photo via Pixabay

With the exception of a little girl's room, pink can be a tricky color to choose as a theme.

The problem with using pink in a room is doing it in a way that doesn't make it seem childlike (when that's not your intention).

Unless you're trying to recreate Barbie's Dream-House, review these five tips before adding pink to a room:

1. The Easiest Way to Include Pink is to add Accent Pieces in Pink

If you don't have your brave pants fully on, then try the leap into pink by adding pink pieces to compliment the space. Use things like throw pillows, blankets, lamps, side-tables, bean-bag chairs, flowers, ornaments and more to carry the pink-load.

2. Choose the Shade of Pink Based on the Mood you want for the Room

Blush (soft pink) makes a lovely neutral choice. It can work as a base just as light tans, whites, and greys do. Simply use a very soft shade of pink (even skin toned pink) on the walls, floors or ceiling. Use complimentary colors for the furniture, drapes, and other accessories. If you're going for a bold, aggressive or sexy look, then richer pinks are your choice. You'll see numerous examples of soft pink and deep pink rooms in the Pinterest Board below.

3. Pink Walls in a Main Room

Add a Pink Patterned Rug - Check them Out

Photo via Pixabay

Rich pink walls can also work in a Dining Room. Pink is actually an upbeat, calming and festive color so it makes sense to include it in a room where people gather. You can use hot pink or lighter shades, both work. Try bronze accents to create a balance and spread the visual load. If you choose a deep rich pink color, try softer grey tones for furniture and/or accessories to soften the impact. The trick is to create balance. With a softer pink on the walls, black dining room furniture works. Pink and black can look outstanding together.

4. Use Black, White, Leopard or Floral as Contrasts

Patterns look lovely against a pink backdrop. The challenge is mixing and matching them. For example, a pink tree branches wall decal can work in combination with black and white patterned items in the room. The trick is to mix pattern sizes. If the pattern on the wall is tight, and smaller in it's look, then a bold wider, less busy pattern is the better choice for the black/white mix. The sharpness of black again helps to distribute the visual load in the room.

5. Use Pink as a Backdrop on a Wall Unit

Whether it's a wall unit or a large shoe cabinet, paint the back of it in your choice shade of pink and choose a contrasting color to match the space for the rest of the furniture.

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Create a Tech Free Sanctuary in Your Home

Are You Digitally Exhausted?

Information overload may be the understatement of this century. We are an overwhelmed society, from the internet to social media to 24-7 texts, news flashes, and emails on our phones.

As we approach the end of this decade, people face this fact and look for viable solutions that enable them to disconnect for a time.

Only some people can take an off-the-grid holiday, and that's where controlling our own environment holds the power.

We can't change the outside world, but we CAN change our inside world.

This Fall Season, Go for More than Warm and Cozy in Your Home Décor - Create a Space that's Absolutely Disconnected and Tech Free

It's not easy to disconnect. According to Business Insider, as of 2016, 72% of the United States population uses a Smartphone. Globally, that number continues to grow.

With artificial intelligence soon to become the new norm and augmented reality already in use, there are few opportunities to disconnect at work and in our daily life activities.

For this reason, a dedicated 'calming space' in the home is more essential than it's ever been. The world won't stop just because we want it to, and the oft-repeated cliché, 'the only thing we can control is ourselves,' means more than ever.

The control we do have is in how we design our homes. Digital free spaces, or calming disconnected rooms, are becoming a design inclusion that more people are factoring into their décor.

Let's Review 5 Ways to Create a Calming Space:

1. Create a playroom that only offers free toys of any digital technology - Add books, popular retro games, play rugs featuring games and learning, dolls, astronomy, space, science, puzzles, wooden toys, and more. Decorate the space to reflect another time and give the room a theme like 'The Way Back When Room,'' Yesterday's Space,' or 'Back to the Future.' Make it fun and colorful so the kids can't wait to enter.

2. If you can't successfully turn a kid's room into a technology-free space, how about including a bed tent or enclosed canopy where the rule is only non-digital items are allowed. Tell the kids the space is for storytelling, fractured fairy-tale fun, and catching up on their day. To add interest, give it a name as well.

3. The most obvious room to convert into a calming space is the master suite. If you're disciplined enough to do this, enhance your design with soft, airy drapes, rugs, and bedding, use calming tones and color combinations, and don't forget the soothing scented candles.

If you can't make your master suite a tech-free space, use an extra bedroom if you have one. In fact, don't even include a clock in the designated tech-free room. Think of it as the 'timeless bedroom' - a time-free zone.

4. Create a sitting room or library that only allows soft music and reading. However, permit only vinyl records. No other devices are allowed. Put a fun bucket at the door that says people can only enter the space if they put their phone in it first. Make a sign that gives rules for entering this tech-free room.

5. Let the dinner table be the technology-free zone. Use fun games to ensure no phones are brought to the table. Make a rule; if someone sneaks a phone to the table, that person has to clear the table and do the dishes. If another person breaks the rule, they help. For every ten successful dinners without devices, create a family reward like a movie night or other prizes the family may enjoy.

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How to Decorate a Long Narrow Living Room

Find Funky Home Accessories at Funkthishouse.com

Photo via Pixabay

We see photos online of beautifully decorated long, narrow living rooms and think, 'Oh, that's easy to do,' until we're actually face to face with our own blank space to fill.

Long, narrow living rooms provide several challenges.

Here's a list of the Do's and Don'ts when it comes to planning the furniture layout for your skinny space:

Don't:  Don't jam all the furniture against the walls.

You're not alone in thinking that placing furniture against a wall will make a room seem larger. However, it's the opposite ... furniture jammed against the wall all around a long, narrow space will merely add to the 'bowling ball feel.'

DO: Pull furniture away from the wall on at least one side. For example, do you have a loveseat or couch that can be pulled away from the wall?

If your room's shape permits it, pull the sofa away from the wall by about a foot (or whatever distance your room allows) and place a long, narrow table behind it featuring tall lamps and a photo collage that goes to the ceiling. Pulling the furniture away from the wall and adding the decorative table can create a cozier, inviting sitting area.

If the room doesn't allow for any furniture to be pulled away from the wall, then place a rug in front of the couch and position the complimentary chairs perpendicular to the couch. That way, you still get the effect of a cozy sitting area.

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Don't: Don't fill the room without thinking about the walkway through the space.

How will people get from one area to another? Without a clear flow, the room will appear balanced and clear.

DO: No matter how you position the furniture in your space, keep a clear path for people to walk from one part of the space to the other.

If you're wondering what a clear path means, design your layout so people don't have to zig and zag around things to get through the space.
******

Don't: Don't restrict yourself to using long regular sofas.

It's harder to create cozy seating arrangements when you do this. It's not impossible; it's more challenging as the sofa will take up more room.

DO: Perpendicular designs are a practical layout for long, narrow living rooms, so try two love seats facing each other.

Again, use an area rug as their foundation and create a cozy seating area. If you add a wall unit or cabinet to the wall perpendicular to the sofas, you'll achieve a tighter, more comfortable feel.

Another tip: in tiny spaces, use smaller-sized furniture with legs. The open bottoms help the room to feel that much more available.
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Don't: Don't use just square boxy furniture and tables. This makes the space too linear.

DO: Add some round or oval accessories.

A round ottoman coffee table or round wooden table will help to break up that back alley look. Use round and oval shapes in other accessories, such as lampshades and vases.
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Don't: Don't just think of space usage horizontally.

Keeping everything at average height on the walls can make a long, narrow living room feel closed in.

DO: Go vertical with your design.

What does that mean? Position draperies where the wall meets the ceiling and have them drape down to the floor.

Or add a tall wall unit that reaches the ceiling or gets close to it.

Or try a lovely wall photo collage that goes up to the ceiling.

A narrow room always looks best when the person entering has their eyes drawn upward. So don't be afraid of patterned, vertically striped drapes.
******


Most Important Tip:
Jennifer Taylor Home Lewis Collection Modern Bolster Hand Tufted Upholstered Accent Entryway Bench With 2 Detachable Bolster Pillows, Navy

Divide the space into two or three areas. Think about what your home needs and design your divided areas accordingly.

Do you need an office area? If so, put the seating area at one end and the office area at the other. You can divide the space in several ways, using area rugs or a small open-two-sided bookcase (that is manageable).

If an office or a dining area isn't possible, create two sitting areas using area rugs to define them.

If there aren't a lot of windows or natural light in the room, it's best to keep the two rugs the same, very close to the same ... or in the same color family, or complementary.

One very cool trick when creating two sitting areas in an open space is to position a chaise or bench chaise so that it's accessible to both sides. Because the piece opens on both sides, it allows for people sitting on the bench to face either seating area.

A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words. Below, You'll find a Growing Collection of Pins that Feature Long Narrow Living Room Designs, as well as Long Narrow Designs for Other Rooms in the Home:

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How to Paint an Open Concept Room with High Ceilings

Find Colorful Decorating Tips and ideas at Funkthishouse.com

 Photo Via Pixabay

Although high ceilings and open concept décor are what most people want today in a home, these spaces can be challenging to decorate.

Before adding color and scale to a space, open floor plans can make a room feel cold and cavernous.

Although it seems contrary to the point of the room, making the space cozy and comfy means scaling down its vastness.

Using Two Colors to Scale Down Tall Ceilings

Two colors on a tall wall create a natural break in height, allowing you to define the space around the color choice on the bottom. The top color can be used as an accent tone for additional pieces in the room.

The example in the above photo shows the two-color concept in action. The bottom section is a deep, rich sea blue color, with the top of the wall painted white. Although white seems like a non-color, it's used to contrast the white cabinet and other accessories, making it part of the intended feel.

But don't stop at two colors; add a third.

One Large Feature Wall Using Two Colors

Featuring a White Fireplace

Photo Via Pixabay

One of the general decorating rules is to work with three shades in the same color family as your base colors. The photo shows how stark just two colors can be. Introducing a third color automatically softens a space.

An Open Concept Wall that Spans Two Rooms

If you have a completely open space that spans two rooms, such as a living room into a dining room where the wall flows from one to the other, it's best to use one color for the entire wall.

The exception would be if you could divide the space using a textured wall feature between the two, like a brick or wood wall divider.

A Concept Room with One Tall Feature Wall

If you have one wall in your space that spans two storeys or is very tall and is visible from other areas, you can paint that entire wall a darker shade while painting another wall that abuts it a lighter shade in the same color family. Thus, the darker wall becomes your feature wall.

If you have windows or a fireplace on that wall with white trim, that's even better, as the darker color will pop even more. In fact, walls with windows and other light-colored architectural trim are ideal for darker-colored paint.

Other Decorating Tricks to Deal with Tall Walls Featured Below in the Collection of Photos:

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How to Decorate a Room with Purple

Purple Home Décor Suggestions Here

Photo Via Pixabay

Last week we covered how to include the color Orange in home décor, so let's talk Purple this week

While orange in home décor is the most misunderstood, purple may be the most feared.

However, there's no need to be shaking in those boots.

Since there's various shades of purple ranging from very soft to royal bold, you can choose what works best for you. Also, don't think purple is just for bedrooms either, you'll be surprised just what you can do with a living room decked out in purple.

Still have doubts? Then, scroll to the bottom of this page to see the collection of rooms decorated in different shades of purple.

Before Decorating with Purple Make One of These Three Decisions:

1. You only want to add a little purple to your space
2. You want a more sophisticated look in your purple room
3. You want the room to have a deep rich look of purple

Let's Discuss How to Use Purple Based Upon Points 1,2, and 3

Just a Little Purple in Your Living Room:

Start by adding a touch of soft yellow. Why soft yellow? Because yellow is a complimentary color to purple and will help the small amounts of purple you add, to pop.

Add the yellow to a feature wall. Then add a lightly pattern neutral drape that contains both the yellow and purple. Keep your couch a neutral color, like white, then add two accent chairs in a medium toned purple (slightly darker).

Finish the space off by adding multiple pillows in a combination of the purples and yellow featured in the space. Mix the pillows up with solids and patterns.

A More Sophisticated Look Using Purple:

The Couches are Missing? 

Check Out these Funky Purple Sofas

Photo Via Pixabay

Start by painting a feature wall in a lighter purple-grey shade.

You can paint more than one wall. If you're color-brave go ahead and paint the whole room in that color.

Next choose a couch in a solid charcoal grey color, and choose accent chairs that are closer to the lighter grey-purple you've painted the walls.

For your drapes, bring in a third neutral color like a light tan or beige.

Finally, end the look with pillow accessories but use darker shades of purple on a few solid color cushions and then choose patterns for the others that have both a mix of light purple-grey and tans.

A Deep Rich Braver Attack of Purple in Your Living Room:

So you're gutsy and ready to go all out purple. First choose a deep rich violet purple for a large feature wall. Or better yet, on a fireplace wall.

Next go with the same or similar rich purple that you chose for the wall for the couch. For the drapes continue with the bold theme by using a deep pink-purple.

For the accent chairs, you'll need a neutral tone, and believe it or not, a lovely burnt orange will work. Lastly, bring all the shades you've included in the room into various plain and patterned pillows.

Check Out This Collection of Rooms Decorated in Purple as Well as Purple Accessories

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Understanding the Color Orange in Home Decor

Orange Home Décor Ideas & Accessories

Most love the color orange, however, think about it ... how many homes have you seen use the color orange in their decorating scheme?

Let's Review The Color Orange, and What it Evokes

The most misunderstood color in the paint deck is Orange.

When we think about orange what tends to come to mind is Food, Halloween, or Autumn. However the feeling that orange gives to a space may surprise you.

Orange, especially a child's room can encourage a warm, friendly, youthful, and socially inviting space. Don't hesitate to add orange accessories to the room, such as pillows, book shelves, a rug, drapes or go ahead and create a focal point and pop of color by painting one wall a bright and inviting orange hue.

Spaces and Ways to Include Orange

1. Since an outdoor space is meant to be socially inviting, cheerful and a positive space to gather,

orange makes an excellent choice when decorating a deck or patio.

2. If your room has a lot of light, adding orange can help to further brighten the room and even help to make the space seem larger. Pops of orange add positivity and energy.

3. Pair orange with a color on the opposite side of the spectrum such as a deep blue. Pairing these two colors together can lead you down the path of creating a Moroccan theme. By combining opposite colors you balance the space.

4. How about a tropical theme? If you're a brave decorator you can take an orange room to the beach by combining orange with hot pink and yellow. Since all of these colors are positioned close together on the color wheel, your space will have an analogous theme.

Try a couch in yellow, a loveseat with orange, yellow and pink stripes, and a solid dark pink chair! Lighten the space up with a pale multi colored small patterned floral rug and then go all out with one wall painted in deep orange. 

Characteristics Associated with Orange

• Cheerful
• Self Confident
• Flamboyant 
• Warm Hearted
• Adventurous
• Comical
• Able to handle what life dishes out
• Sociable
• Enjoy being part of a group or team

For those who lived through the 1970's, you'll recall Orange being a popular color in home décor. My baby brothers room was decorated with orange and white furnishings and an orange shag rug! Cheerful, fun, inviting...yes, that was his space.

Orange is fun, put your brave on and go for it. 

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How to Create a Light and Airy Room with a Pop of Color

The Walls & Floors:

Choose light colors for the floors and walls for a light and airy room design.

The base of the room should be neutral. The very light grey/tan walls and the light hardwood floor provide the foundation to start. You don't have to choose the colors featured above; just remember that whatever you decide, they should be neutral.

The Furniture:

If the wall is further away from your couch, it's best to place an end table on each side of the couch.

By the way, you don't have to use end tables that are precisely the same; in fact, different tables on each side of the couch can look fantastic. Remember to create a common denominator between them, like the color, the material, or the lamps.

When the color of the couch is neutral, use accessories to add pops of color. If your wall color is a different neutral, just use a darker shade or darker for your couch and chairs. By staying in the neutral family with your furniture, you can use accessories and art as the basis for your true funky pop of color.

Wall Art:

In a neutral, airy space, wall art is where you choose the pop of color you want, and from there, you pull out one, two, or three colors to use as the room's accessory colors.

So go ahead and find the art you want to use for your light, airy room first. Once you have the art and know the neutral tones you want to work with, the rest is fun.

The Accessories:

Add texture with accessories. Even knick-knacks can have cloth textured items with pops of color that have been pulled from art and pillows.

Another subtle, yet not so subtle, accessory that contributes to the room's airy, calm feeling is the wooden word 'Happy' placed on the tray on the coffee table. The designer was smart - by choosing the word you want people to feel when they enter, you're encouraging them to feel the mood of your intended design. A light and airy room does make you feel happy!

Let's Summarize:

1. Choose the neutral colors you want for the walls and flooring
2. Choose the couch in a shade or two darker than the walls (but still light in color, of course)
3. Select the Wall Art you want for the space - but choose ones with pops of color you want to pull out to use as your accessory colors (You could also choose the art first)
4. Accessorize the space using the color you choose from the art, along with other neutrals
5. Use a variety of textures when you select your accessories: cloth, wood, ceramic, glass,
6. Finish off the room with a funky wooden word ornament that defines your space: words like happy, calming, peaceful, love, relax

The next time you decorate a room, put your funk on and try it.

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How to Decorate a Small Space Using Color

Looking at a small space, we think, 'How will I get everything into it.'

If you've ever watched the TV show 'Tiny Homes,' you've seen how small spaces can be maximized and that, yes, it's totally possible to decorate a little room successfully and practically.

But What About Color in a Small Space?

You don't have to settle for bland colors because the room is small. You can make it funky and bright without shrinking its overall feel.

The Walls & Ceiling:

A good choice is a white-trimmed window to soften the darker wall. Also, having a light window on a darker background lets you introduce a pop of color using draperies. 

Yes, you can paint a ceiling a dark color and make it work. However, a dark ceiling can be challenging when a  room is small, and you're already putting darker colors on two walls.

The Wall Unit, Bed and Desk:

If the interior of a wall unit has dark shelves and a dark background, the room would feel and look more closed in. 

By putting color only on the front of the cabinet and leaving the rest white, you get storage and color without overpowering the space.

The primary reason a storage cabinet reaches the ceiling is the feeling of height it gives to the space, and storage of course. It gives a  sleek, streamlined appearance and lets you draw your eye upward, giving the illusion that the ceiling is high.

The Room's Accessories:

Other than the bedding, choose color. 

With solid-colored walls, floors, and bedding, the rug is a perfect place to feature funkiness. In fact, if you can find the rug first, you can draw colors from the carpet to determine the room's overall palette.

Use color in the lights, pillows,  drapes, bean bag chairs, photo frames, or a shelf or two as featured in the photo.

Texture - that's right, texture adds depth, even to a small room. Use texture in pillows, rugs, chair covers, and drapes. Without it, the room would feel stark. So go ahead and choose a bright textured rcarpet- you could even select a thicker shag rug.

Lastly, Your Color Palette:

That's easier than you think. If you're pulling colors from a rug, stay in the family of colors featured in that rug.

Another way to choose color is to select two colors, then allow the walls and floor to act as the neutral base, and always add a third and/or fourth color in the rest of the accessories. That helps to soften the feeling of the room. When you only select two primary colors, a space can feel more monochromatic and cold.

Don't let small spaces hold you back - let your funky side out.

Happy Decorating!

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It's Easy to Combine Rustic and Modern Decor - A Decorating Review You Can Try

Add a Brick Wall to Warm Up a Contemporary Space

Can't afford a Craftsman? DIY the Project

It's not an exaggeration to say young people today tend to prefer a cleaner, slick, modern décor theme.

In fact, if you've recently visited renovated or new homes currently for sale, you've probably noticed that Staged homes are geared toward a contemporary look.

What about People who Prefer the Combination of Two Types of Decorating Schemes? Tying a Little Old with a Lot of New?

Let's take a look at the above featured photo as a how-to guideline for combining rustic with modern.

The obvious focal point and the one that adds the rustic aspect to the space is the brick-wall treatment. The exposed brick contributes an old world tradition to an otherwise modern youthful space.

With exposed brick, you're essentially decorating one (or two) walls to add a cozy, warm, inviting feeling to the space.

Contemporary décor, void of softer tones, texture and color, can come across as cold and uninviting. Texture is especially critical when you want to add warmth. With walls and floors being the two largest most impactful parts of a room, put-your-brave-on and go for it - add texture.

But Exposed Brick is Too Hard to Do Right?

Wrong. Most people avoid it because they're not ready to hire a craftsman to install the brick. However, if you're wearing-your-brave, take that leap, do it! The professional install will only add

Dress-up Your Brick Wall with Canvas Art

and Creative Lighting

value (in most cases) to your home.

But guess what, you can DIY this project. That's right. Yes you can. Faux brick is something you can find and order online, and depending on the type of brick you choose, most go up with a peel and stick backing.

DIY faux brick walls are the easiest and least expensive way to add texture to your space. If you're too nervous to try a large wall, order just enough to do a small feature wall in your home. Once it's up, then decide if it's a look you're interested in pursuing further.

In terms of accents against an exposed brick wall, incorporate furniture with wood and rod iron. Rod iron in particular looks outstanding against exposed brick. Closely check the above photo and you'll see that the chairs have rod-iron legs on them.

Another point of interest in the above photo, is the mix of wood tones. Since the wood flooring, painted walls and kitchen area are completed in light colors within the same family and the exposed brick is in a darker shade in the tan/light brown family, the wood table set works perfectly.

So although you're looking at a space with white/grey/blonde wood floors and a darker wood table, it flows beautifully because the exposed brick wall ties the entire space together.

Give it a try!

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3 Decorating Choices for a Love Themed Bedroom

Love Rug Featured on Funkthishouse.com

Additional Love Themed Rugs Also Featured

All You Need is Love - A Bedroom Theme Based on What the Worlds Need Now

Well, these grand sentiments may be a little too big for bedroom décor, however, decorating because love is love, family is love, children mean love, or you love to inspire how to love, makes all the sense in the world.

From deciding upon a nursery theme to decorating a master bedroom, love works. Love fits all ages, all sizes, and all families and best of all, we never outgrow love. We can re-use and re-purpose all things love.

Love Rugs - The One Time You Can Walk all Over Love to Feel Good

The above handcrafted, stain resistant Love Rug is like love itself; it works for all ages. Whether you're decorating a child's room or planning to add loveable funk to your master bedroom, this four foot by six foot, one inch thick rug makes a creative addition.

For the nursery, put it front of the crib, for a grown-up space, add it to the side or end of the bed, in the middle of the room, or depending upon the size of the space, in front of a corner reading chair.

If this rug isn't just right, be sure to visit the link under the above Love-Rug photo to view a wider selection of colors, styles and designs.

Light Up the Room with Love - LED Love Signs

LED Love Sign

Featured on Funkthishouse.com

This particular Love Sign features 16 LED white lights and measures 20.8" by 9.25" by 1.56". It's a cordless accessory that operates with two AA batteries. It has an on off switch as well.

Place it in a bedroom above a dresser or over each bedroom side table as a form of ambient lighting. Better yet, for those who get up in the middle of the night to feed baby, it makes the ideal soft lighted guide.

When rocking baby, feeling tired, the word of love helps to remind us about what's important in life.

When you visit the link under the LED Love Sign photo, you'll find additional LED sign choices.

Wrap Love Around You in Bed with Love Themed Bedding

One of the easiest ways to bring a little love into the bedroom is by redoing your bedding set with one that features hearts, or roses, or words. 

Love Themed Bedding Here - Additional Designs As Well

Surprisingly, artistic bedding sets can be quite affordable making them an excellent choice for a seasonal or emotional re-do.

We tend to think our bedding has to remain the same, when in truth, purchasing various duvet sets allows us to interchange our room's décor without much added expense or fuss.

Use a love themed duvet set for your love themed bedroom and interchange it from time to time if hearts and roses get a little too much for constant use.

Changing up duvet sets simply means choosing colors and themes to match the fundamental design of the room. Find duvets that tie into your existing floors and walls and you'll be able to give your space hassle-free-pick-me-ups whenever you're in the mood for it.

Lead with love, it's the only road that takes us home - happy decorating.

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Two Creative Decorating Ideas for Book Lovers

Featured on Funkthishouse.com

Add these Unique Pieces to a Book Themed Space

You don't have to spend a fortune building book shelves or adding expensive wood to a room in order to create your book themed space. Instead, add these artistic reading inspirations.

A Staircase Bookshelf Wall Decal

If you've ever wanted to make a statement with your décor, a faux book shelf on your staircase is the way to do it. Hey, money permitting, take it to the next level and create real bookshelves on the backs of the steps. However, if that kind of investment isn't in the cards, be sure to check out how affordable stair art decals are.

If you love color, books and decorating in a non-traditional way, this stair decal is calling your name. It's easy to put up; simply peel and stick. However be sure the surface is clean, dry and smooth. Count your steps first as it comes with 13 pieces. If you have more than 13 stairs, you'll have to order two sets. Also, another nice feature is it's retro nostalgic paper style verses a more modern high definition effect. If you're looking for a more traditional book-shelf art, this works.

A Uniquely Designed Book Side Table

Book Side Table

Featured on Funkthishouse.com

This handcrafted Design Toscano Lord Byron Wooden End Table is stunning in it's craftsmanship and artistic elegance.

If you're not familiar with Design Toscano pieces, you'll be pleasantly surprised with their exclusive home décor sculptures, statues, wall art and furniture. This unique book side table is merely one of over 6000 items available through Design Toscano.

The book side table has a two door opening and a pull out drawer on the bottom. The two-book look on top finishes the overall appearance and gives the piece it's elegance.

It's surprisingly affordable when you consider that each piece is individually handcrafted by Artisans.

Take your love of books to the next level, the easy way.

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Happy Birthday Taurus - Decorate Your Bedroom Around Your Birth Sign

Choices for a Taurus Themed Bedroom

@ Funkthishouse.com 

Taurus the Bull, Let's Agree, You're Awesome - Celebrate by Decorating Your Bedroom Around Your Sign's Theme

Taurus, this is why you're too fabulous for your shorts:

"You're sensual, hard to resist, ambitious, dependable, good with finances, have an eye for beauty, absolutely reliable, practical, and most of the time patient"

Since this is all about how wonderful you are, let's leave it at that and not mention any of your negative traits today. We'll focus on the good for the sake of good decorating :)

There are multiple ways to decorate with your astrological sign as your theme. If you're not keen on using a Bull as your decorating base, you can pick other aspects of the sign.

Here's a Few Key Elements Associated with Taurus the Bull that You Can Choose to Center Your Décor Around:

Ruling Planet: Venus

Lucky Numbers: 5 and 6

Birthstone: Emerald

Element: Earth

Colors: Earth Tones, Orange, Yellow, Green

Symbol: Bull

Choosing your bedding is the easiest place to start. If you're not into having the sketch of a Bull on

Taurus Bedding Set Here

your comforter, choose your ruling planet or your colors as your bedding theme.

In fact, you can easily find bright colored bedding that features all of your colors and then some. Your candy colored bedding can then become the base by which you govern all other choices in the room.

If you're in need of an area rug, like your bedding choice, a rug can be anything you want that ties into your bedding.

As an example, if you're a fan of orange, pull out the orange color from your multi-colored bedding and choose an area rug to match. You're only limited by your imagination. Start with your own personal favorite color and then go from the there. If your favorite color isn't one of the colors associated with your sign, that's ok too; simply add your favorite colors to other design elements, such as ornaments, pillows, and throw blankets.

If you're inclined to keep your sign's symbol subtle within your space, feature a Bull Statue or Bull Wall Decal: When you visit the link under the Taurus Bedding Photo featured above, you'll not only find that bedding set, but also a number of additional Taurus décor items, including decals and ornaments.

So have fun Taurus, after-all you're hard to resist, so odds are, your room will be as well!

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Two Ways to Add a Rustic Look to a Room Without Treating the Walls

Create a Rustic Theme in Your Space Without Painting or Treating the Walls

Painting isn't a big deal. Unfortunately, most people think a rustic look is created by adding barn wood or other wood treatments to the wall. While it's true that barn wood walls make a stunning addition to a country theme, it's not the only way to achieve a rustic effect.

Barn Wood Draperies - A Wood Look With Cloth

Barnwood drapes come in a variety of styles and designs. You can see additional choices when you visit the barn wood drapery photo.

If your room has a large picture window or a sliding door, the drapes will add an impactful rustic feel when closed.

However, you don't need a window to put drapes up. By putting drapes on a feature wall that doesn't have a window, you create the illusion of more space while adding to the country feel.

In fact, you can have something behind those drapes: Behind the drapes, go ahead and feature a faux window or 3D country scenic wall decal. Open the drapes, and you've created a third dimension.

Faux Wood Area Rugs - Rugs that Look Like Hardwood

Did you get an area rug that looks like a hardwood floor? Of course, most of us know about the typical bamboo floor rugs, but the ones that surprise people are rugs explicitly designed with fabric/cloth to look like a wood floors.

The above rug has a rubber backing and thus may not have the feel of a traditional area rug. Think of it as a giant mouse-pad. However, you can put a piece of carpet foam underneath to increase the low pile. However, to be aware, it is pretty soft to begin with.

A good spot for this rug is under a coffee table. With the light barn wood drapes and a matching area rug, you only need to add rustic accessories: pillows, throw blankets, trinkets, and rustic lamps. You've completed the theme without opening a can of paint.

Have fun with your paint-free redesign.

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Area Rugs that Can Bring an Inspirational Message into a Room

Find Rugs with Words via Funkthishouse.com

Inspiration in the Most Unconventional Places

The area rugs of today aren't the area rugs you used to see at your grandma's house. Nope. Today the choices are wide ranging and absolutely unexpected.

When we think of motivational and educational messages, we normally add them to a space by using prints or wall decals. However, today you can find area rugs featuring inspiring words ranging from spiritual to comical.

An Original Gift Idea

Choose an inspirational rug with words for a gift. There's a solid chance the recipient won't already have one. In fact, they've probably never seen one.

Inspiration doesn't have to always be serious and tutorial in nature. It can also be light and fun and still deliver a profound message.

Best of all, you're giving a practical gift that will actually be used to enhance the décor in a room.

A Motivational Area Rug featuring Virtues to Live By

Find inspirational words featured on rugs that speak to the positive traits we should work towards.

Feature a motivational rug in an office, den, teenagers room or even a foyer. Greet those who enter with words that reflect what you believe in and who you are.

Best of all, you can teach without speaking. Those who enter your space won't be left guessing about what you believe in or what you're motivated by.

Whether we speak words of goodness or just display them, they make an impact.

So the next time you're looking for an original gift, think about giving an inspirational carpet .... they don't fly, but they can help spread words of love, which can help the spirit fly, so in that sense, they're magic.

Put love on the floor to complete your décor.

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Feature Family Photos in a Unique and Decorative Way

Staircase Family Tree Wall Decal

Available on Amazon

Additional Family Tree Graphics Featured Here

Do You Have a Wall that's Been Waiting for Just the Right Photo or Photos but are Unsure What to Feature on it?

If you do, you're in the club of just about everyone. Resorting to old habits usually wins the day when it comes to decorating. However, if you're feeling creative and have the time for a worthy family project, you have to look at the idea of featuring a large family tree wall graphic.

Putting up a family tree wall decal isn't an instant project, so you'll have to put aside time to get it finished. Also, there are several informative how-to videos on YouTube that you can review before you take the leap. Even though manufacturers vary, the videos give you a first hand account of what to expect when putting up large wall graphics.

This Popular YouTube How To Video is One I Personally Like Best - However there are more:

This particular video shows you how to put up a large wall tree decal versus an actual family tree graphic, however the process is essentially the same. For the purpose of gaining an understanding of what's involved, it's helpful.

Taking the Family Tree Leap

In terms of creating a visible display of your family and for your family, it goes without saying that this project is worth every cuss word you may utter while tackling it.

Imagine your family and friends entering your home to see a wall that not only features your clan, but does it in an incredibly artistic way.

There are numerous designs, colors and styles to choose from. The decal featured at the very top gives you an example of one designed for staircases; truly a gorgeous way to utilize the often empty wall space you see on a staircase.

You'll want to allow yourself lots of time to do this, but if you're handy, go for it!

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Add this Unexpected Piece to Complete a Dollhouse Themed Room

Momeni Lil Mo Whimsy Dollhouse Rug

Personally, a Dollhouse Themed Bedroom would be My Second Favorite Theme for a Little Girls Room (The First Being a Barbie Theme)

Being a little girl in the 60's and 70's may be the reason I grew up to love Dollhouses and Barbies, however my independent nature tells me the real reason is .. I simply loved both.

I look back and remember how fortunate I was to have a mom who decorated my room in a way I wanted; It was a purple, pink and white room with hand painted purple and pink furnishings and best of all, a purple shag rug! For the 1970's where shag rugs were the thing, a purple shag rug went against the grain of the colors of the day which were Avocado Green and Harvest Gold.

Best of all, I had a fabulous collection of Barbies; and mom even knit clothes for them! Next to Barbies, dolls and dollhouses were my fave - In fact, anything dolls; dollhouses for Barbies, life size dollhouses, clothes for dolls, furniture for dolls, and paperdolls - especially paperdolls!

Time marched on, and being the mom of four sons, I never had the chance to create a dollhouse themed space for a daughter.

Seriously, I could go nuts today creating a dollhouse themed space - the décor choices are almost endless! However in dollhouse décor one of the most unique pieces to add is a dollhouse area rug. Why? because it's unexpected, and not often incorporated into a room.

Floor Décor Grounds a Space, Literally and Figuratively

Most of the time we consider a dollhouse rug for a child's playroom or play corner, and of course, that works, however, imagine the impact if used as the focal point in a bedroom.

Depending upon the dollhouse rug, most come in a variety of sizes. With the average bedroom size tending to be 10ft by 12ft, a dollhouse rug of at least 5ft by 7ft can anchor the space and provide enough detail and color to draw out from to complete the room.

The impression of a busy, colorful artistic rug defines the space. The additional dollhouse themed items complete the room, but the rug serves multiple purposes; it adds warmth, texture, color, playful interest, and most of all is a functional piece of art.

We all know that floors, walls and windows are the fundamental space definers, however, choosing pieces that also double as art, or make a stylistic contribution, takes a space from 'eh to wow.

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