Decorating Your Bedroom for Fall

Temporarily Change Your Bedroom's Decor to a Fall Theme

Reviewing Ways to Satisfy Your Urge for a Seasonal Change Without Spending a Fortune

We rarely think about making a seasonal change with a bedroom, mainly because we believe it would be time-consuming and pricey.

However, if  Fall is your favorite season and you'd like to bring fall colors into your bedroom without doing a major overhaul, here are three ways you can accomplish that without breaking the bank:

1. Cover Your Existing Comforter and Pillows with an Autumn Duvet Bedding Set

If your bedroom's existing color scheme is fairly neutral or decorated with a few fall color tones already, then go ahead and bring fall into your bedroom by putting a calming fall duvet cover over your existing comforter. By doing this, you keep your existing comforter; you're temporarily covering it up. Remember to change those pillowcases as well.

You don't have to spend a fortune either. You can find Duvet sets for under $100, and the best part is that when you're ready to go back to your standard decor, just remove it. Or better yet, replace it with a
Christmas Duvet Set.

2. Switch Your Standard Drapes Out for those that Feature a Fall Scene

This temporary change is more challenging than the bedding change; however, if you choose drapes that go up the same way as your existing drapes, it's a breeze.

We rarely think to inter-change our draperies, yet window coverings can change a room's entire feel and look. In the case of fall colors, they add warmth and coziness.

Again, when you're ready to go back to your standard decor, remove them until the next time.

3. Add a Double Sided Fall Room Divider - Surprisingly, They Don't Cost a Fortune

Granted, this is a more difficult addition to a bedroom (unless your bedroom is pretty large). 

It's also valid for large dual-purpose rooms, such as bedroom/office combinations. 

Because this piece is prominent, it isn't something you can easily store away, but why would you want to - just move it to another room. 

You can place this gorgeous artistic piece in the family room, an office, a study area, a foyer, or any place where there's a need to create a division in an open area.

Changing Your Decor for the Season is the Best Way to Get Over the Craving to Buy a New Home

My days as a Realtor allowed me to understand why people decide to move. 

People often expressed this common sentiment ... 'we need a change.' 

You may, in fact, need that change. However, before you decide whether moving is right, go ahead and redecorate a little. Sometimes, the changes we need are minor.

After all, decorating changes are a lot less expensive than moving.

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns" by George Eliot

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A Review of Color Choice in Home Decor - The Psychology of Color

My Own Family Room
You Guessed It, Warmth is the Theme

Have You Ever Thought About How the Paint Color You Choose in Your Home Affects Your Mood?

Understanding the psychology of color and knowing what to choose can be a difficult, even stressful process. Whether it's seasonal colors or simply our own taste, it's not easy to finally decide which colors to go with.

If you're doubting that, think about a time you decided to redecorate a space and how long it took you to choose the colors to use ... as well as the planning it took to incorporate those color choices with new or existing furnishings.

The biggest problem with color choice is that we often decide to choose a color before we understand the mood we want people to feel when they walk in.

Warm Tones & Cool Tones & Which Ones Fit the Mood We Want Our Room to Have

WARMTH: If you're looking to decorate a room using warm tones, then you'll want to focus on color tones in these families:

• Red Tones - Evoke warmth and passion and are the hottest of all the warm tones

• Yellow Tones - It's warmth is used to liven up a space, giving a room intellectual happiness (Yes, believe it or not, yellow is associated with intellect)

• Orange Tones - It's a conversation piece that spurs creativity making it an ideal choice for encouragement. Kitchens are often painted in orange. Picture sitting around the kitchen table, interacting, laughing and sharing with friends and family.

Mix and match various tones in each, or simply focus on one of them. Just remember the basic three or four color rule - that is, choose your base color then add 3 or 4 accent colors to complete a cohesive look.

The Above Photo is my own family room, and you can easily see that 'warmth' was the theme of the day for this design. The space includes butterscotch, soft tan, dark tan and a splash of grounding black and white. The area rug has various subtle shades that also tie in, and although you can't see it in this photo, there are plants in the opposite corner adding a pop of green.

COOL: If you're seeking to decorate a space based on calmness, relaxation, serenity and meditation, begin by choosing color tones in these families:

• Blue Tones - Blue, the color of water, is a wise choice when you're looking to create a spa-like atmosphere in your space.

• Violet & Indigo Tones - Choose these tones to create a meditative, spiritual environment. Any room where the purity of calmness is your aim, you'll want to be in this color family.

• Green Tones - The color of nature is a calming cool color and a common choice for bedrooms and baths.

What's the Best Color Tones for Destressing? The Answer COOL colors. However, stay in the pastel shades of these cool colors. In other words don't use navy blue, deep purple or dark green.

What about Blacks, Browns and Whites? 

• White is used for purity and intellect, and when used proportionally with other colors in a room, white is great for offices, places of study or an environment where you need to do some thinking.

• Blacks and Browns are normally used as grounding colors and you'll usually find them in various places in a home. As an example, the black TV and white window frames in my family room featured above acts as a grounding color for the space - as do the the lamp bases.

Remember the most important thing: These are general guidelines. Have fun choosing your colors and make choices based on color schemes you and your family prefer.

After all, it's your space, and first and foremost, you need to be happy and comfortable.

Funkthishouse.com

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Before You Decorate, Learn the Top Color Choices for Fall 2016

Top 10 Fall/Winter 2016 Pantone Colors
in Headband Hair Ties 

It seems ridiculous to decorate for a trend or season doesn't it? Not necessarily.

It can be done without spending a fortune in time or money. As an example, here's how to temporarily make a bedroom change for Halloween.

To be all-up-in-what's-current in your decor with Pantone's fall and winter colors, add pieces that include some of their ten choices into various accessories.

That way you're not doing a complete overhaul but can still show your friends and guests what the current seasonal colors are ... and for Fall 2016, they're calm, appealing, and gorgeous!

A REVIEW of PANTONE'S TOP COLOR CHOICES for FALL 2016

You can see the specific color choices here on Pantone's website.

They're beautifully presented and you'll get a real sense of their true color tones. The headband hair ties featured here are the colors listed below, however they're not in order.

When you visit the Pantone website or watch the video featured below you'll see exactly the color name as it relates to the actual color.

1. Riverside Blue
2. Airy Blue
3. Sharkskin (grey family)
4. Aurora Red
5. Warm Taupe
6. Dusty Cedar
7. Lush Meadow
8. Spicy Mustard
9. Potters Clay
10. Bodacious

The Zeitgeist and Color

Upon reviewing Pantone's top color choices for fall 2016, their main theme of consistency, confidence and strength certainly fits the emotional and even uncertain times we currently find ourselves living in.

The emotions exuded by Pantone's color choices reflect the times, however they do so in a way that encourages a sense of calm in a world where division and hardening of positions have taken root. The certainty of Riverside Blue is meant as an example of something you can count on.

Of course that's not by coincidence, as Pantone connects it's color selections to the Zeitgeist, which in simple english means it reflects the mood, emotions and beliefs of society for the current time.

Pantone's Color of the Year for 2016

Pantone announces a color of the year every year and puts out the top 10 color choices for both spring and fall. This year was the first time two colors were selected as color of the year; Rose Quartz and Serenity. Of course, the need for calm and steadiness in a divided world is reflected in this choice.

Seven Ways You Can Incorporate any of the Above 10 Fall Colors for 2106 into Your Current Decor:

1. Use slip covers over pillows
2. Add a throw blanket to a room
3. Have your child/children create a piece of art with any one or all of the ten colors then frame and feature it
4. Create a fall center-piece using the lovely fall shades of spicy mustard, aurora red, lush meadow, and warm taupe
5. Put lush green plants throughout your home or add several to one room
6. Incorporate Aurora Red and Lush Green into your holiday home decor
7. Set your Thanksgiving Table with each of these colors in mind; glasses, mugs, plates, napkins, the tablecloth and center-piece

Of course you'll find most of these colors reflected in fashion, however, they also extend to our working and living environments. After all, color selection is based upon society's current 'mood' and that mood makes itself visible in every aspect of our life, from where we live, to where we work, to what we wear.

Here's a video that shows you the fall color choices reflected in clothing. Go ahead and use these as your guideline should you decide on home decor accessories in these shades:

Color is a very personal choice, and in the end, our room and our clothes have to reflect who we are inside. With the mood of society ever changing the one constant we can confidently call upon are the things and colors that make us happy.

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Patriotic Bedding Sets - Celebrate July 4th Even When You Go to Sleep

Find This American Bedding Set Here

"When we re-decorate our bedrooms, we normally approach it as a one-time style change until we're ready to tackle it again - Who says we have to do it that way?"

Have you ever gotten the itch to make a bedroom decor change for a special occasion like Christmas, or even July 4th but didn't think a temporary change was worth it or could be done?

It's actually easier than you think when you choose bedding duvet sets.

Why Bedding Duvet Sets?

Of course, yes, you can use a comforter set, but a Duvet Set allows you to put the duvet cover over your existing comforter. That way, when the special occasion is over, you simply remove it along with any other pieces you put out such as sheets and pillow cases.

The problem that prevents us from making these quick changes is matching it to our existing decor. The paint, wallpaper, and furniture may not match another bedding set. True enough. Sometimes it won't. However, sometimes it will, or you can make it work by strictly using accessory pieces:

If your walls are busied-up with a lot of pattern and color, then to add a full seasonal or special occasion duvet set may be difficult. 

Idea: Just because you can't feature an entire set, doesn't mean you can't feature something patriotic, like a pillow, throw blanket, or bed sheets.

When you do decide to fully re-decorate a space, selecting a fairly neutral base decor, makes temporary seasonal changes easier.

Pick a couple of your favorite holidays or special occasions and find sets that are easily interchangeable with your room's base decor and go ahead and switch out your bedding for that much needed decorating pick-me-up. When you're ready, just remove the duvet set, and it's back to the way it was.

Have funk'n fun!

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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!

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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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Customized Blankets and Throws Make Great Gifts

Are you looking for a gift for a special occasion? On this page I will review two of the special blankets that can be customized on Zazzle to make your gift extra special.

Zazzle has two different types of blankets available to be customized by you or you may choose one that is already made by the many Zazzle artists.

• The first type of blanket available is a soft and cozy polyester fleece blanket.  It comes in 3 different sizes (30x40-50x60-60x80).  This blanket is machine washable.
• The second type is a beautiful woven throw blanket.  It is made of a combination of 50% cotton and 50% polyester.  It is 54x38 inches in size.

Shown below are samples of each of the blankets from my Zazzle shops.

Fleece Blankets

Historic Lighthouses by lighthouseenthusiast
View another Fleece Blanket at Zazzle

Plumeria Blossoms by mbgphoto
Shop here for Fleece Blankets at Zazzle

Throw Blankets

Animals of Africa Throw by mbgphoto
Find other African animals Throw Blankets at zazzle.com

Purple Phlox by mbgphoto

Browse more Purple flowers Throw Blankets at Zazzle

Customized Blanket Ideas

There are so many different ways you can customize your blankets to make them a special gift.  Here are a few suggestions.

• A graduation gift- Add photos from their high school years to make this a special memento.  This will be a great blanket to take to college.
• Mothers Day- Add photos of children or grandchildren.  Use text to add a special message.
• Travel Memory- Add photos from a special trip.
• Graduation gift for athlete- Add special photos from sporting events
• Wedding Gift- Add a Monogram and perhaps the engagement photo of the couple
• Anniversary- Add photos from special moments
• Hobby enthusiast- add photos from their favorite hobby or pastime.  The lighthouse blanket above is a good example.
• Gardener- Take photos of their garden and add it on the blanket

More Blankets by Review This Staffers

This beautiful Resurrection blanket was created by Sylvestermouse.  Below that you will find two of her delightful animal blankets.

Jesus Resurrection Throw Blanket by Sylvestermouse
Look at another Throw Blanket

American Black Bear Throw Blanket by Sylvestermouse
Browse more American Throw Blankets

Panda Fleece Throw Blanket Fleece Blanket by Sylvestermouse
Check out these Fleece Blankets at Zazzle

Here is a beautiful dogwood blossom throw blanket from Dawn Rae and a fantastic daisy blanket.

Dogwood Blossom Throw Blanket by NatureByDawnRae
Look at Zazzle Throw Blankets

Sunny Daisy Art Throw Fleece Blanket by NatureByDawnRae
View other Throw Fleece Blankets at Zazzle.com

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Pillows can Add a Great Touch to Your Home Decor

Pillows can add a bit of your personality to your home decor.  On this page I will review several of the pillow designs that are available on Zazzle

Zazzle pillows come in many different sizes and shapes and can be customized to fit your tastes. You may design your own pillow or choose one from one of the designers on Zazzle.

Round Pillow

Portland Head Lighthouse by lighthouseenthusiast

The pillow above is an example of one of the round pillows you will find at Zazzle.  This particular pillow features photographs I took of the Portland Head Lighthouse.  The round pillows are 16 inches in diameter and have a hidden zipper.  They are wrinkle free thanks to the 100% brushed polyester fabric and can be machine washed.  

Design Suggestions

Here are some suggestions for designs for your pillows.

• A favorite flower
• Travel photographs- remember your trip with a beautiful toss pillow
• Child's photograph- delight a little one with their photo on a pillow
• Your pet
• Wild Animals
• Sports Themes
• Seasonal Photos- change your decor to match the seasons
• Holiday Photos- decorate for each holiday

Square Pillow

Here is a pillow I made using a floral design.  This square 16x16 pillow is reversible so I put a single blossom on one side and a bunch of blossoms on the opposite side.  These beautiful plumeria flowers were photographed at The Butterfly House in St. Louis, Missouri.  This pillow is also available in a 20x20 size.

Reversible Yellow Plumeria Flowers Pillow by mbgphoto
View another Pillow

Lumbar Pillow

The lumbar pillows come in a 13x21 size.  You have a choice of the polyester material or a 100% grade A cotton material.  Both are machine washable.  The reversible pillow below was designed using some photographs I took of monarch butterflies.  

Monarch Butterfly Reversible Throw Pillows by mbgphoto
Shop for another pillow.

This delightful sea turtle makes a great decorative pillow.  It was designed by fellow Review This staffer Coletta.  I can see this colorful pillow as part of your summer or sun room decor.

Hawaiian Honu Sea Turtle Pillows by CrypticArt
See other Turtle Pillows

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