Posts Tagged ‘tips’
What Does “My Decorating Style” Mean? Here Are a Few Tips to Help You Answer That Question
My decorating style. Most people use that phrase without giving it much thought. Its as if each individual had a unique way of expressing their tastes and aesthetics, and have found and combined items which together allow the rest of us to witness their own personal uniqueness. In a way, that’s true, but just how many “styles” can there be?
If you were to search the web for “decorating style”, you’ll come up with millions of results! Millions. Everything from African decorating style to Zen decor. And many websites are today dedicated to defining what all this means and what you need to do to fit in to whatever style category your decorating style quiz says you should. And, if you hire someone, they’ll tell you what you should believe “my decorating style” should be.
All this, of course, will be decided by how you answer specific questions, what you buy and how you arrange those things. Setting arrangement aside for a moment, let’s look into what you buy, specifically your furniture, art and accessories. Our childhood influenced many things, such as our political views, our food choices and our decor directions. For instance, if you grew up in a simple, hard surfaced minimalist home, you might carry on that style or choose soft, puffy furniture and wall to wall plush carpeting as your statement of independence.
Or your parents bought, or helped you buy, much of the furniture you have and you simply purchase things that will “go” with those things. Most of us really don’t know what our own personal decorating style is. So, naming it is nearly impossible! We’ve all heard the terms “Shabby Chic”, “Western” and “Tuscan” and some believe that giving your interior decor a name “certifies” it or makes it legitimate. But most of us change with the seasons, have growing families, move to another part of the country or remarry. This leads to change in our purchasing and decor choices.
]]>
A lot of us also still have things that we don’t necessarily like, but they hold some sentimental value or remind us of something or someone special. Some of us have gifts—framed art, accessories or even furniture—given by friends or favorite relatives. And, all of us grew up in environments that shaped us positively and negatively in regard to our homes and furnishings. In other words, our personal decorating style is both created by us and plays a roll in defining who we are.
Now, let’s get back to “arrangement” or how we place those “things” in our homes. Understanding how we came to the decisions we make in regard to the placement of objects in our living rooms, bedrooms and dining areas, along with the hardness or softness of those things IS something we may never change. There are only 4 basic styles of interiors … and, each of us is drawn to one of those, no matter what our personal decorating style is. They are:
CASUAL – Includes cottage, shabby chic, American country and many others which utilize softer fabrics and natural materials. If you like pleats, ruffles and comfort, you could be in this category. Furniture and accessories are sturdy, overstuffed and perhaps slightly whimsical. If your mate is one of the other three styles, remember other styles can be “casualized!”
CONTEMPORARY – Basic and linear. A sleek and fresh, bold personal statement representing a modern, up to the minute, probably tech-smart person who focuses on the dramatic. Smooth lines without skirts and frills. Colors are black, white, some neutrals and bright, bold accents. Plants are large and may have their own lighting.
FORMAL – Also called “old world” is elegant and symmetrical. Antique furniture and original oil paintings (with elaborate frames) will be arranged in pairs and always lead to a focal point within the room. Floors can be tile or wood with Persian carpets and Oriental rugs. A formal living room might have a large window, centered on the wall, looking out over a manicured lawn.
TRADITIONAL – This is the style most Americans grew up in. Classic and comfortable. Rooms might have white crown molding, understated accessories, antiques, drapes with under treatments of pleated sheers and plain colors. You may not even call it a style, as it seems like everything is where it is “supposed” to be and nothing is overdone or out of place.
Once you discover your basic style, it will be much easier to define your “personal” style. And, don’t be afraid to be somewhat eclectic. We all are. A contemporary interior with an antique jukebox? A casual living room with a 56″ wall-mounted HDTV? A formal home with a wild and crazy kid’s room? Why not? This is where your personality gets personal. You should be free to experiment and grow! Free to challenge the system. Free to explore new horizons! If you really need to name it, go ahead. There are a million decorating styles out there with names. Search “personal decorating styles” and see.
But you are you, and are different from the other six billion people. Your home is your expression of the uniqueness of you and should reflect that quirky thing that sets you apart. There’s no law that says you have to name your style, you know. When someone asks you what your style is, why not tell them its simply “your” style. For more information, go to RemodelQuickTips.com and click on YOUR STYLE or any of the other listings on the navigator column for free tips and ideas.
Durand Demlow is a commercial designer, home remodeler and website developer. His knowledge and career has given him the experience to create a website focused on helping do-it-yourselfers and homeowners with free remodeling and decorating tips and ideas. His website, RemodelQuickTips.com is an ever-growing resource of DIY concepts and advice.
Find More Antique Furniture Articles
Home Decorating Ideas: Decorating Tips for Living Room
You may use your living room less frequently than other rooms but it doesn’t mean that you can let it cold without decoration. All guests who come to your home deserve to get a warm welcome when they enter the living room. For this reason, decorating a living room becomes a significant effort to do. In this modern day, your living room shouldn’t be that formal and stiff.
Creating a user-friendly living room is a good way to have a nice visit with your friends or relatives. You can decorate this main room in some unique ways so that you can receive your guests in a more comfortable way. Here are some decorating tips you can apply for this room:
1. Choose some pieces of furniture that are more versatile. Classic furniture is a great choice since it won’t look outdated in the next few years.
2. A good way to make your living room look more alive is by selecting comfortable seating. Seating furniture in vintage and antique style would be a great piece for this room. You don’t have to choose antique furniture in formal Victorian style. Nowadays, you can find casual antiques designed for living rooms.
]]>
3. Try not to buy a set of furniture such as chair set or matching couch. It would create a creative look if you select individual pieces and match them based on your personal taste. However, getting a pair of loveseats for the seating furniture is allowed. This is a matching that you can do with the furniture. You should also notice chairs placement in the room. Avoid locating a single chair in the corner since it will isolate one of your guests from the conversation.
4. Lighting selection also plays an important role in this room. It is a good idea to combine table lamps, decorative lamps and accent lighting to create a charming effect.
5. Update your lampshades and throw pillows frequently. Replacing these items is a great way to refresh the atmosphere in the room.
6. Keep your antiques in a safe area. Provide special shelves to keep the items to avoid them from any harm.
7. Last but not least, try to create an impression that you use your living room more often than you usually do. Placing small tables, chairs or storage item will make the room look more alive. You can also put some magazines on the tables to complete the look. However, don’t put too many accessories since they will only make your room look too cluttered.
Need further source on ? Make a click on our website and discover amazing tips for decorating your home.
Muddassir Rashid is an expert article writer. He writes articles on Home Decorating Ideas.
Some top tips to identify an antique piece
Want tо knоw іf your furniture iѕ аs оld as уou might think? Here arе ѕomе tips tо help yоu identify an antique.
1. Patina
An оld table wіll hаvе a rich, beautiful finish. Decades оf polishing аnd exposure to the elements create patina. Check underneath a table. On an older table, the appearance оf the wood will be muсh dіffеrent underneath thаn on the top. The underside will be lighter beсаusе іt hаs not bеen polished оr had use. This іs а clue to advanced age.
2. Handmade
Look for handmade furniture. Antique furniture was hand made bу craftsmen. Watch fоr uneven carving; іt іnԁісatеѕ hand made workmanship. Machine made furniture hаѕ identical, perfect carving. A set оf chairs iѕ great to check fоr it. If аll thе carving anԁ detail on all thе chairs iѕ absolutely identical, іt waѕ machine made, аnd nоt ѕo old.
3. Veneer
Look for thick veneers оn wood. Veneer haѕ bееn usеԁ fоr hundreds оf years and is not necessarily а bad thing. However, older veneer iѕ thicker thаn modern veneer аnԁ it waѕ glued ontо wood. Newer veneers are very thin. Modern manufacturing methods allow fоr thinner cuts. Modern veneers аrе оften glued оnto particleboard оr base woods.
]]>
4. Signature
Look for a makers signature. Newer, mass-produced furniture would tend to bе signed by a craftsman. A signature helps to date an item, determine vаluе and provide provenance.
5. Mortise-and-tenon Construction
Watch for construction methods, mortise-and-tenon іѕ a method whеrе twо pieces оf wood аrе cut likе a jigsaw puzzle to fit tоgether wіthout nails or glue. This technique iѕ usеԁ to compile thе оvеrаll structure of a piece. It denotes excellent craftsmanship anԁ helps to identify аn antique.
6. Locks
Look fоr locks fitted wіth brass keys оn drawers, desks etc. Often thе lock makers name іs clear. This nаme is a good reference point tо determine age аnԁ value.
7. Dovetail Joints
Dovetailing іs а method оf construction uѕed to put tоgеthеr drawers, blanket boxes etc. It іѕ аlsо method where twо pieces of wood arе cut lіke a jigsaw puzzle to fit tоgеthеr wіthout nails оr glue Handmade 18th century dovetails аrе large anԁ uneven. Machine-made dovetails аrе thin аnd even.
8. Nails
Look for square pegs anԁ hand forged nails. Furniture made durіng 17th аnԁ 18th century uѕеd square pegs. Hand forged nails аlso indісаtе аn antique. You сan tell hand forged nails becаuѕe thеy аrе vеrу irregular іn size and shape. Seeing construction wіth a Phillips screw ѕhоulԁ make you thіnk that an item iѕ not ѕo old.
Sue Madison is an antiques collector and antiques restorer. She now focuses on her hobby of antique mailbox collection and of vintage mailbox restoration.
How to Preserve Wood Furniture the Green Way: My Top 3 Tips
I’ve never been a fan of furniture polishes and waxes, as the toxic vapors would always make me sick. I figured there had to be green alternatives that are non-toxic and get the job done just as good. Here are my top three tips for keeping your furniture looking its best while saving money and avoiding the toxic polishes that flood our market today.
Before Preserving The Piece, Ensure It’s Clean.
I don’t know about your furniture, but mine is permanently dusty. Therefore, I need to make sure it’s totally clean before applying my monthly polish to it. The cheapest and best method for this is to use tea. It’s a great choice for removing old polish and prepping the piece for polishing.
Tea? You heard right. Heat up a cup, let it cool to room temperature before soaking a rag in it. The tannic acid in tea will actually make your wood shine while removing all the dirt. Once you have your piece completely cleaned off, it’s time for the next natural and non-toxic step.
Use Olive Oil To Keep Wood Looking Its Best.
Avoid the costly and toxic furniture polishes out there and go for the kitchen. Olive oil and white vinegar make great candidates to clean up your furniture. Not sure exactly why it works, but I tried it and was severely impressed by the results.
I tried the technique on an old rocking chair I have in the living room that looks really old and faded. While I like the old look, I was curious to try polishing it. I remember spending a lot of time looking at furniture polishes, but then deciding I didn’t want to use toxic stuff if I didn’t have to. It’s funny when you read that Consumer Reports also advises against the chemicals and casts their vote for natural green cleaners.
Mayonnaise: Excellent for a Sandwich… or Polishing Furniture.
This was a new one I discovered recently. Mayonnaise works really well to polish furniture, and it gives a shinier look than olive oil does. Of course, it’s your preference as to how you want your stuff to look. I think modern furniture looks good polished, while antique furniture looks good appearing old as it is.
The longer you can let mayo sit, the better for the shine. Rubbing it liberally in the direction of the wood grain can do wonders for removing marks of all sorts. Remember that mayonnaise is comprised of oil, vinegar and eggs: Oil and eggs give the shine while the vinegar cleanses. Give it a try, you’ll be surprised.
Ever since I found these natural recipes for preserving furniture, I would never consider bringing toxic polishes in my house again. Not proven to work on all wood, more expensive and toxic? I don’t think so. Save some money and keep your furniture looking great, who knew it was this simple?
Of course, these tips are just the start of your green cleaning revolution. A complete green cleaning program is simple to implement and ends up saving you money while keeping toxic and cancerous chemicals out of your home. This is one aspect of eco friendly living where I truly believe that everyone can do their part and thrive…and it’s really simple. So just go for it and see the results.
Free green cleaning report reveals how you can start saving money in little time while keeping toxins out of the house. Discover it here while it lasts:
http://www.tylertalkstrash.com
Article from articlesbase.com
Some Valuable Tips in Caring for Your Antique Furniture www.antiquesandmore.com.au
Welcome to Alabamas Largest Treasure Chest Since 1998. Shoppers from all over the World have enjoyed a great experience when shopping here for antiques, collectibles or hard-to-find items.www.GardendaleFleaMall.com Most people say we have everything from AZ. You will find items in arts & crafts, glassware, Fenton, McCoy, Hull, books, antiques & collectibles, sports memorabilia, jewelry, comic books, china, porcelain, coins, toys & games, watches, stamps, furniture, just to name a few. There is so much that you can find at the Gardendale Flea Mall & Antique Center that you just have to come in and see it for yourself.
Some Tips To Restore Antique Furniture
Restoring antique furniture to its former glory can be an expensive and painstaking process, but it’s also the best way to keep its value intact. If a piece of antique furniture has been with your family for generations, you no doubt think of it as family too, and if so, don’t you owe it to your “family” to do your best in resuscitating it?
Antique Furniture Restoration Tips to Bring Life to Old Pieces
Tip #1 Leave it to the professionals. Antique furniture pieces are irreplaceable. It’s highly unlikely that you’re going to find an exact replica. If you try restoring it yourself, the slightest mistake can lead to its total destruction. Are you willing to risk that?
Tip #2 Know the extent of the damage. Museum curators, furniture experts, and restoration professionals are usually able to give estimates and detailed analyses – it can be free of charge in some cases – of what you need to fix and how much it will cost.
Tip #3 Know your choices. Antique furniture restoration always offers you choices. Most times, full restoration is associated with greater risks so you’ll usually be asked if you wish to fix only the damage that’s most easily fixed then implement an alternate solution to other parts when restoration seems risky.
Know what else you need besides money to have your antique furniture restored. Would you have to scour the market for a fabric match? Are there gems that you need to replace? How much time will restoration take? Know exactly what restoration entails.
Tip #4 Find the ideal antique furniture restoration expert for you. Consider the following factors when choosing an expert:
EXPERIENCE – How long has he been in the business? Does he have any experience in working with similar projects? Can he give you any referrals and proof of his expertise?
SKILLS – What makes him qualified for the job besides his years of experience? Does he possess any educational degrees that could help him in this job? Does he have any specialized skills?
RATES – Restoration projects are always expensive so it’s best to know beforehand how much he’s going to charge you for giving your antique furniture a second lease on life.
Lastly, look for someone you feel easy and comfortable around. This way, if you find any part of the process uncomfortable, you won’t hesitate in inquiring about it. Choose someone who knows that you’re the boss, and what you say goes because you care the most for the item.
Information on deer facts can be found at the About Animals site.
Article from articlesbase.com