ArtaBerryHome Improvement Blog..

The dressing room is the dream of many fashion enthusiasts but also to all those who seek a practical space for clothing storage. Also, remember that everyone can have a dressing room, just a little organization. Common errors to avoid when you want a dressing room but also to properly organize it.

Do not think it takes a dedicated room to create a dressing.
If, of course, a room devoted to dressing is the perfect solution, you can also opt for a dressing area in your room. Indeed, if your piece has a nice size, you can devote a corner of the room to clothing. You will find many solutions for storage: cabinets high capacity storage systems to modulate … The idea is that all of your clothing is in a single place!

The dressing, it’s not for girls!
If you’re a couple, girls need to realize that the dressing is not only reserved for shopaholics. Indeed, this is a practical and optimized space that will store the clothes of the couple but also to preserve them. Thus, men often have as much need of dressing so as not to offend their costumes. Then plan a dressing large enough to accommodate your clothes and your spouse. Feel free to offer a space to everyone in the dressing room.

Do not just one type of storage.
The principle of a dressing is to own several types of storage to match different clothes. So when you create your dressing bet on the multitude of storage. You will need such a space for wardrobe, shelves for t-shirts, drawers for lingerie but also practical accessories for shoes or ties.

A dressing is not necessarily open
Know that you do not have to opt for an open dressing room that reveals your clothes. There are many solutions to help you close the dressing room. Also you can choose doors, curtains or Japanese panels for your clothes disappear from the room.

Do not think that dressing does wonders!
If you are not ordered, a dressing will bring you all the space for storage but it will still put on yours. The storage and organization are paramount! You will think for example to store the clothes you use less in height or rather at the lower of dressing.

The tone is set, the year 2012 will be colorful! The world want the joy and prove it by daring bright colors, so far neglected in favor of more sober tone. In this socio-economic climate, light, energy and good humor got more than a special place in the house. Two color experts gave us their views on these new palettes to use without restraint. However i must say that indigo is one of the tones catch suddenly by heart this year. Here are some reviews about 2012interior designers favorite color.

The personalization of honor
The wave of intense colors and sweeping across our habitat is not ready to stop! The trend “color block” began in 2011 will grow a little this year, as outlined by many interior designers & brand awareness specialists. In a difficult economic environment, the habitat becomes a cocoon, in which one must feel good. It is therefore important to personalize and embellish it.  Adjust the colors to his mood and lifestyle is also the spearhead of Patrice. The real trend is primarily a matter of personal choice.

The return of tints tonics
Blue, yellow, green, purple..The bright colors are back on the stage. To meet this need for energy and good humor, Most of the interior designer launches new range of shades reworked in tune with the times, that fully meet deco desires of the moment. However, Its better to choose a nice color quality rather than a sustained loud tone, which can quickly tire. Indigo is one of the tones suddenly of heart this year, next to which it will not pass! The palette of blues in store because of surprises in decor.

The gray color
This will undoubtedly be one of the flagship colors of 2012! The gray is a perfect indicator of color, totally in tune with the times. It is used to blackmail the range of bright colors, which used alone would not make the desired effect to you, therefore, to choose your own gray among the many existing lines declined. The new neutral tone, which replaces the beige in the basic colors, can be used perfectly to your decor to enhance volumes and colors. In the range of basic tones, whites are also broken in the foreground color trends. More elaborate and sophisticated than ever, they come in many variations which are added a few points of color in your brushes.

It’s a tough old slog for women in 2012 – while aiming high and spending our days trying to get far in the hard-hitting career world, we must also perfect the art of homemaking. Cleaning, cooking, looking after the children and being the perfect host come top of the list for what is required for the domestic goddess.

Back in the 50s, keeping the home clean, uncluttered and tastefully decorated was the norm. Dinner on the table for 5.26 when you’re husband walks through the door? No problem. But as the work place gets more competitive and the need for two incomes is almost essential to keep on top of mortgage payments, home insurance and utility bills, there isn’t always time to clean and bake and look glamorous at the same time. For those of us out there that struggle for time and motivation to be a carbon-copy of a post-war housewife, here’s a few little tips on how to be a domestic goddess on the run.

Pretend you’re organised.
Mess is an inevitable evil when faced with a family and a hectic schedule, but clutter is something else entirely. To create the illusion of order, go through your kitchen cupboards and get rid of any out-of-date-products – do the same with any empty bottles lurking in the bathroom. Coats and shoes are difficult to make presentable when there are two people living in the same house, let alone four or five. If keeping them neat this isn’t an option, try to create storage space away from the prying eyes of guests.

Make a good impression.
It’s probably a regular occurrence that you’re expecting guests in five minutes and haven’t had time to make the house presentable during your day of working, picking up the kids and cooking for the family (not to mention you’re lunchtime Zumba class). There are however, a few small cheats to creating the illusion of cleanliness and order.

Quickly polish a couple of surfaces in your main entertaining room – the smell of the polish has a psychological effect on anyone who comes through the door – they will think that the room has just been polished and it will automatically look cleaner. Plumping cushions and picking up obvious bits on the floor instead of vacuuming are must-dos to save time when entertaining. Try putting a damp cloth sprinkled with your favourite scent on a radiator so your guests have a friendly welcome.

Make Sundays a food day.
If weekday meals are chaotic and rushed at best, then fool your family and friends into believing that your cooking is something else, by focusing on a well prepared Sunday lunch. Whether is be a Sunday roast, a buffet with wine for guests to enjoy or a BBQ in the sun – make Sundays a foodie event. Take pleasure in the thought that everyone you know will think you’re organised and a dedicated wife and mother. Only you need to know the truth about that one.

Sort your bag.
You may need to carry everything about with you when you head to the shops, but nobody needs to see your organised chaos of a handbag every time Choose a stylish bag with plenty of compartments big enough for all your cosmetic and communication needs as well as anything small (or that you want to hide from your other half) you may pick up at the shops.

Make time for you.
Mastering the art of the fraudulent domestic goddess can take its toll, so make room for some well needed you time. Driving to and from work doesn’t fall into this category, neither does your weekly workout. Lock the bathroom door and indulge in some sweet smells and a long soak. Have a glass of wine and a cheesy magazine on hand to escape from work and the noise of the house. Alternatively, go for a walk in a park or along the beach and enjoy the great outdoors.

Learning how to paint a room is a simple task once you  begin reading up on it. There is a lot to think about, but most of your painting task is simple enough. Doing it yourself is easy as long as you complete the proper preparation and follow a few guide lines,

Preparation Strategy
Planning is an important part of any task as it typically makes the job go more smoothly. Make your preparations prior to beginning any painting. Compose a list of all of the supplies you need to purchase. This should include the proper brushes, paint, painter’s chalk and tape, tarps, and cleaning supplies. Purchase all of the items at the same time so that you don’t forget anything.

Choose an area of the home for a landing station where you will keep all of your supplies. If the room that you are painting is large enough, simply use a small section of that room. If it is a small room, you might want to consider storing the majority of these supplies elsewhere.

Even though you are going to paint the room and the dirt would get covered, it is important to start with clean walls. Paint goes onto clean walls more easily. Plus, the walls will look nicer when the paint job is finished. Remove obstacles from the room to simplify the painting task. This includes blinds, drapes, lamps, wall hangings, knick knacks, and any furniture that might get in the way.

What Size Brushes and Rollers to Use?
For the best results when painting a room, you should have several types of brushes and paint applicators. For painting the walls, you can use a wall brush in any width between 3 and 5 inches, a paint roller, or a paint pad. Paint pads usually create less spattering.

For the ceiling, a paint roller with an extension handle is the easiest tool to use. The roller can also  be used to paint the walls. Consider buying a power roller that holds the paint in a reservoir to simplify this task. A paint pad on a wheel is perfect for painting the wall near the trim, ceilings, and corners. It allows you to paint on an angle, up to the edge, without getting any paint on the area that you are trying to avoid.

A smaller brush is needed in order to paint any trim work. Purchase one with a width of 1 inch if you  have narrow trim. You can also purchase trim brushes up to 3 inches in width depending on the size of your wall trim. Typically, this type of paintbrush is referred to as a sash brush.

When decorating a room many things have to be considered; the colour scheme, the furniture and the type of window treatment to use. Roller blinds are extremely popular within households and are available in a variety of designs, colours and styles. However, you may still struggle to find the suitable one. You may have an idea in your head of a pattern or design that you want but just can’t seem to find anywhere. Then why not create your own?

DIY kits for roller blinds are available from most hard ware and retail stores which include step by step instructions as to how to do this. However, it is important to remember that the fabric needs to be bought separately. Visit clearance sales or look out for online deals on plain blinds. Remember to choose a colour that you are happy to be the background to your design whilst sticking to the colour scheme and décor of your home.

Measure both the width and the length of the window frame, jot it down and take it with you when purchasing the blind. It is essential to buy a roller that fits correctly to avoid the blind becoming wrinkled and untidy.

Methods
Appliques can be either bought or hand made. These allow you to cut out motifs, patterns or shapes and transfer them onto the blind. This can be done by either using double sided iron on applique fabric or glue. If using glue, be careful not to clump it in areas and ensure all edges are firmly stuck down onto the fabric as they will begin to fray after a while.

If using iron on appliques follow this route:
Iron a sheet of applique fabric onto the back of the purchased fabric and cut out the desired shape or design. Either follow the instructions on the DIY kit or place the patterns onto the roller blind fabric using a hot iron. (It is important that you check whether the roller blind you are using is suitable for ironing). Repeat this method for each blind you wish to customise.

Ink prints, stamps and fabric can all be used to decorate your roller. These can either be bought or hand-made. Household objects such as soap, potatoes and wood can all be used to carve out the desired shape you wish to implement. Simply dip the stamps into the paint, allow the excess paint to drip off and press firmly onto the blind to pattern.

Ideas
A particular favourite amongst households is the use of leaves and flowers. Use an applique or stamp to transfer the leaves or flower heads and then, using a thin paintbrush, carefully create stems for added effect. If decorating a children’s room, why not use their hands as a stamp instead? That way a room can be personalised whilst also clean and polished.

Painting or creating your own custom-made roller blinds can also be a great way of sprucing up old and tatty window treatments. With a thorough clean and a little extra detail, these old and lifeless blinds will be transformed into delightful centre pieces for any room within your home.

Strong presence in the new decorating trends, the 1950s were on the rise. Red Edition offers us a good start for a 2012. Simple shapes, wood and a Scandinavian-inspired, here is the legacy of the 1950s found in many contemporary furniture. Red Edition and remembered it to create his latest Sofa Design 50. With a length of 210 cm and a height of 83 cm, this sofa is first of all great! It can comfortably accommodate 3 people and therefore suitable for a large enough room. The design is simple without being simplistic. We note the work done at the base in an aesthetic. The structure is made of acacia wood.

Next color, the sofa Design 50 ‘is displayed in neutral colors. Very consistent with contemporary design. Mottled version, there are beige, gray, chocolate, black and anthracite chine. In more traditional version, it has the choice of beige, beige and chocolate.

The thought of pumpkins, fiery leaves and hot cider are difficult to imagine during these oppressive summer days, but nothing makes us more eager for the refreshing cool of fall than planning ways to celebrate the season at home. Here are four trends with project suggestions to liven your home with the love of autumn.

Borrow from Nature: As leaves fall and the woody structure of shrubs and trees are exposed, borrow from their natural beauty. Snip a few branches from a tree with smooth wood like willow and display them in an angular white vase. Taller branches can be displayed from the floor and liven up a corner.

Project Suggestion: Gather a set of 6-10 spent stalks of daylilies that have dried since the mid-summer blooms. Spray paint them rustic orange or white and allow to dry (if your decor is more natural, you can also leave them paint-free).  You now have several options: bundle them together and tie with a contrasting ribbon or twine and display as an accent piece on your mantle, or place two stalks each into 3-5 slender white vases and line them up for a contemporary centerpiece.

Pair Neutral Colors with Bold Accents: Brilliant, fiery red is a hot color this fall. Paired with more muted wine tones and taupes, it can create a coziness that beckons to any houseguest. Other color combinations to consider are com husk yellow, chartreuse, and earthy brown, or even navy blue and gray with accents of dandelion orange. One of the simplest ways to integrate color without redecorating an entire room is to focus on the small accent pieces.

Project Suggestion: Create curb appeal with an autumn-inspired front entrance. Find a set of 5-6 old flower pots or check out end of summer sales at a local garden center. Choose your favorite fall flower: pansies and mums make fantastic options. Limit yourself to no more than  two different colors of flowers, repetition of color will create a more harmonious look. Spray paint the old pots the color of your choice to give them new life and pot your  flowers. Arrange in sets of 2 or 3 down your front stairs for a welcoming splash of color. What colors to try? Orange mums with navy blue pots, yellow mums with muted orange pots, and red mums with taupe pots all make good combinations

Indoor plants provide an exciting opportunity to add some green to your interior decor for a brighter look in your home. Plus, you get a chance to try out your green thumb even if you don’t have the time or inclination to create an outdoor garden.

While you have several options that you can use to add a few indoor plants to your home’s interior, incorporating hanging planters and succulent plants into your home’s decor is a popular strategy among homeowners from all walks of life.

Hanging Plants

Going vertical with your plants and making use of the space in the upper area of a room is a great idea, especially if the room is small or the window ledges are narrow. Not only can you add some greenery to the room’s decor, but you don’t need to sacrifice valuable space needed for something else.

Hanging planters are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, and colors, so you can easily find one that fits in with the room’s existing decor. It’s important not to hang your  plants too directly above heating vents or near drafty openings. Hanging plants are perfect for adding a welcoming touch of color to bland walls or corners of the room.

The Rising Popularity of Succulent Plants

Succulent plants are popular for use as indoor plants. In fact, pairing two or more succulent plants together in a large planter is so popular that many home-and-garden stores sell them as one in a single container. If you decide to pair up a few succulent plants on your own, you need to make sure that each variety requires the same type of growing environment. Otherwise, your plants are going to suffer when one receives the right treatment and care and the other plants do not.One of the nicest features about succulent plants is that they are slow growing, so it takes a longtime for them to outgrow their perch in your home, “mistype of plant does not require a great deal of watering, so it is easy to take care of this style of vegetation without much effort at all.

If you have pets that live in the house with you, it is important for you to check whether or not the plants are poisonous before you bring them home.  If you don’t have any experience with plants, it is a good idea to start out slowly with just one or two  planters until you get the hang of caring for indoor plants.

A good night’s sleep isn’t always easy to get. There can be many reasons for this, one of which is simply not feeling comfortable in your own bedroom. But help is on the way. Here are some tips on how to add some luxury to your bedroom transforming it into a sanctuary you’ll find hard to leave.

Bedding is the main feature for that pampered feeling, so spend a little extra on it. When buying a new mattress go for the largest one you can afford. To make your existing mattress softer and more comfortable, use a mattress topper. Buy lots and lots of big, fluffy pillows, which you can simply fall into after a hard day, and be sure your sheets also add to the comfortable feel by purchasing ones with high thread counts.

Now to the flooring. If you have hardwood flooring, you can improve its appeal with area rugs. Choose soft ones in soothing and calming colours and be sure the rug is the first thing your feet touch in the morning. If you have carpeting, consider having a new high-pile and top-quality style carpet installed. Or go for area rugs again, but be sure the colours of your existing carpet and chosen area rug don’t clash, as this will ruin the luxurious image.

To visually enhance the refined appeal of your luxurious bedroom, use art and mirrors. The mirrors will add light to the room and make it seem bigger; while the art helps you relax. This is, of course, dependent on taste, so when choosing your pieces take your time and check if it is aesthetically pleasing to you and will match the rest of the room’s decor.

The lighting of your room can make or break the luxurious feel. A single light bulb on the ceiling of the room breaks it, but small table lamps and floor lamps have a softer glow and therefore set the mood. A combination of different styles of these lamps fashions elegance, which underlines the ambience of the room. Alternatively, you can invest in dimmer switches and have complete control over how soft or how bright you wish the room to be. The only light features left to control are natural light, and light from the street. Vertical blinds are great for this, as they can let in light or keep it out, and are available in several different colours and materials. Choose a style, material and colour that compliment your décor. Most importantly, remember that it is your luxurious sanctuary. So, anything you like, enjoy, relaxes you and makes you feel pampered, is right, and no sanctuary will look like another, and more accessories can always be added.

A heritage wall is a featured location in your home where family photos and ancestry memorabilia are displayed as a cohesive collection. This is an attractive and informative way to present family both  past and present for friends and family members to enjoy. This is a particularly good idea if you are preparing to host a family reunion event at your home.

Select a wall in your home that is normally ignored. Hallways, landings, and staircases are often a good place to consider. A room ideally with sash and case windows, the wall should be large enough for twenty or more items to be positioned in close proximity.

Bring out your family photo albums and select photos of family members of the last five or six generations. Download an attractive family tree that gives you room for the same five or six generations as well as locations for photos. Fill in the names of the family members.

Scan your historical photos into your computer and crop and resizing your images to fit on your family tree display page. Print out each person on a good photo paper with your printer. Trim and glue your images to the family tree display page. Repeat this process for your partner’s side of the family so that you have two similar size and organized larger display pieces favoring each side of your family. Frame these pieces identically.

Select other interesting family photos, some old, some new, along with newspaper clippings, announcements, invitations, old love letters and other frame able items that will add interest and color to the overall arrangement. When possible, always frame a copy of the original so that the original item will not fade from exposure to sunlight. Frame these items in a variety of vintage and new frames. Locate vintage frames in antique stores, garage sales, flea markets, and attics and from friends and family members.