Decorating Shelves

Unsure about how to decorate open shelving? Incorporate a variety of decorative items to add visual interest. Start by instantly adding color or pattern to a space by painting or wallpapering the inside back of a bookcase or set of shelves. Simplify the overall look of your shelves and prevent them from looking cluttered by adding only one or two decorative items per shelf. If you have multiple items to display, try setting them up in groups of two or three for a more organized look.

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5 Summer Party Ideas

Summertime and parties go hand in hand. Whether you're hosting a large family reunion or a small dinner party, kids of all ages are likely to be involved. Set up fun and easy decorations that guests will love.

1. Lay down large sheets of paper as table cloths, use jars of crayons as your centerpieces, and let guests color away! This is just as much fun for adults as it is for kids. Let your guests tear off their creations and take them home. Then throw out the rest for easy clean-up.

Photo: A Little Sussy

2. Put simple white flowers in clear vases and add a drop of food coloring for a bright, fun look.

Photo: Decorismo

3. Dress up your silverware (or plasticware) with patterned or colored napkins and keep it all together with colored ribbon, string, or anything else that you can think of.

Photo: Martha Stewart

4. Tie a spoon or fork onto individually portioned snacks so that guests can easily navigate through your party and still be able to enjoy a bite to eat.

Photo: Little Elves

5. Remember making paper chains as a kid? They are just as cute now as they were then. Coordinate your paper chains with the rest of your decor. If you have kids, let them help you put them together for a fun family activity.

Photo: Babble

Easter Table Decor

If you're hosting Easter this year, then it's time to start thinking about your table's decor. Easter eggs are the first thing that come to mind for many of us who celebrate the holiday, so try incorporating them into your table setting. An easy way to do this is to create a centerpiece that combines eggs with flowers, moss, twigs, or grass. Fill a large cylinder vase with decorated eggs and seasonal flowers for a refined and slightly more formal look. Stick with tulips, daisies, or daffodils as they are currently in season. To give your table a more casual feel, create multiple small arrangements in vases, nests, or egg cups. If you are assigning seats this year, direct guests where to go with homemade egg shell name cards. Simply write your guest's names on an egg and put one at each place setting. You'll be sure to impress!

Happy Easter all!

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Pantone Color of the Year 2013: Emerald

Pantone has named emerald as its color of the year for 2013. If you're not familiar with Pantone, it is a company that is, in many opinions, the expert in color. So if you're ready to give your home an update try incorporating this trendy color. For maximum impact paint an entire room in the hue. Otherwise, consider reupholstering a chair, adding throw pillows, or outfitting your windows in emerald. One tip to keep in mind when shopping for this style: a lighter shade of emerald gives a more contemporary look, while a darker shade tends to be more traditional.

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Thanksgiving Tablescape

Those of you who are responsible for hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year are probably hard at work preparing today. Once you have a moment to step away from the kitchen, it's time to focus on setting the table! With a little creativity, you can "wow" guests with a Thanksgiving-themed tablescape. To create a seasonal centerpiece, start with a simple vase and fill it with small pumpkins, gourds, or branches with colored leaves. For a longer table gather the same items in multiple smaller vases and space them out along the center of the table. Stick with fall colors if you opt for a tablecloth and do the same with your placemats and napkins.

Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for reading!

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Fall Crafts for the Home

Fall is in full swing and soon enough there will be plenty of chilly weekends that are perfect for staying inside and perfecting your crafting skills (at least that's what I'll be doing!). Start outside by collecting the items that you'll need to create your homemade fall decor. Collect leaves of various shapes and colors, twigs, and holly branches. Pick your favorite leaves out of the bunch and frame them in clear glass frames for instant mantle decor. If you're willing to invest a little more time, paint a leaf and use it as a stamp on plain white paper. Frame it in a simple frame for colorful, one-of-a-kind artwork. Go one step further with your leaves by tracing them onto colored construction paper, and attaching them together to create a wreath. The best part is that the paper leaves won't dry out so you can display your creation year after year! Last but not least, wrap leaves around a wooden letter for a monogram that is perfect for fall. Compliment your new leaf decor with a vase full of twigs and holly branches.

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Photo Walls

Personal photos are the perfect way to make your home a little more you. Your home should be a place that makes you feel comfortable and happy, and what better way make it that way then to surround yourself with images of the people, places, and memories that you love? Create a photo collection by organizing all of your photos in a specific way. For example, select photos that are all the same size and frame them in identical frames. Hang the collection to form a large square or rectangle for a cohesive and sleek look. Achieve a less systematic look by alternating the sizes of each frame, but keeping the color the same. Arrange the frames to fill a wall (kind of like a puzzle), or lean them against a series of shelves.

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Bathrooms With Color

Bathrooms are typically the smallest rooms in a home, which means that they provide the ideal opportunity to experiment with bold color and pattern. If you're feeling extra daring, re-cover your bathroom walls with a vibrant wallpaper or paint color. If that seems a little too risky, then start by incorporating color in smaller ways. White beadboard, tile, or wainscoting are great ways to break up the amount of color on your walls. Install it on the bottom half of the walls and select a bold paint or wallpaper for the top half. Finally, the least risky way to bring color into a bathroom (or any space for that matter) is through accessories. Select a bath mat, towels, and artwork in coordinating colors for an accent that can easily be switched out.

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Chalkboard Paint

Slowly but surely I'm beginning to realize that life is too short to take yourself (or your decorating) too seriously. A home should be a place that is always stylish and unique, but never too serious. So what better way to add a little fun to your space then chalkboard paint? Change up a dresser, paint a wall, or go all out and cover an entire room. Not only will it look great, but it will provide a blank canvas for your personality (literally). Create a household calendar, label drawers or cabinets, share a quote, draw a picture, or leave a little note. Stick with white chalk for a simpler look or go bold with colored chalk.

If you're hesitant about painting your walls black then check out Rust-Oleum's tinted chalkboard paint!

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