You Light Up My Life

Not enough people use candles as part of their home decor. You don't have to only use them when you're in the mood for romance. Candles lend a special ambience to the home decor setting don't you agree?





Candle Tips

from Candlemart.com

Candles will fade if left in the light for an extended period of time.Never put candles in a window or directly expose to bright outdoor light or indoor spotlights.

Keep lit candles out of drafts, drafts create large flames, shortening the burning time.

Wicks should be trimmed to a 1/4" from wax for longer burning time.

Votive candles must be in a container. They are made of a low melt wax. The tighter the fit the longer the candle will burn.

Votive burning is fun, however the clean up of the container is frustrating and time consuming. Eliminate this aggravation. Simply place 1/8" of tap water in the base of the votive holder prior to lighting. Once the votive candle is extinguished, allow the wax to solidify. Once solid, gently push on the wax and the contents should pop loose. If that doesn't do it, put container in the icebox for about 15 minutes. Take out and press on wax a little, it should pop out.

Floating candles can provide both a formal and informal setting for either a dinner party or a back yard picnic. Floating candles in a clear bowl creates an extra special lighting effect. Using distilled water eliminates mineral buildup on the side of crystal or glass, preserving its unique presentation of floating candles.

Let spilled wax solidify so when it hardens it can be removed in pieces by covering with paper towel and or a brown paper grocery bag and gently press out with a warm iron - the wax will melt and be absorbed into the paper.

A candle will burn more slowly and evenly if it's refrigerated before using. Wrap the candle in plastic or foil before refrigerating to prevent wicks from absorbing moisture.

Each time you light a pillar candle, burn it long enough to create a pool of wax across most of the diameter of the candle. The candle will last longer and burn more evenly.

Before a dinner or party, light and then extinguish the candles as they will light more quickly and easily when you are ready to use them.

Extinguish candles when they get within 2 inches of their holders or decorations. To extinguish a candle, dip the wick into the liquid wax, using a nonflammable instrument. This little known technique eliminates smoking of an extinguished wick.
After extinguishing candles, re-center wick.

Fast Redecorating Ideas

Feel bored everytime you step into your house? You don't need a major renovation to rejuvenate your home.

Article taken off http://interiordecorating.suite101.com/

6 Fast Redecorating Ideas

Mix and match the following tips to create a new look that makes you smile.

Undecorate. Take down all of your knickknacks and tschoskes, photos and artwork, plants and lamps, blankets and pillows. Everything must go except the expensive anchor pieces that you have no intention of replacing. Having a blank canvas lets you create your masterpiece.

New Photos and Artwork. Replace dated photos with newer shots, select something that reflects the season or the mood you want to portray. Put away artwork and spice things up with a new canvas. Try your hand at painting, an abstract painting with bright, splashy colors instead of a traditional country scene takes your room in a brand new direction and sets the stage for more decorating risks. If you’re not quite ready to replace old artwork and photos, try a new arrangement.

New Fabrics. Fabrics can be a pricey investment, but if you’re a good shopper you can scoop up incredible deals. Even if you can’t find the deals an investment in new fabrics is still a relatively inexpensive way to spice up your home. Fabrics to replace include slipcovers, window treatments, throw pillows and blankets, area rugs and bedding. When replacing a fabric try something entirely different. If you normally like little intricate patterns, go for something bold with a large pattern. If your bedroom has been blue forever then bring in a new contrasting color to add excitement.

Start Painting. You can often paint an entire room for under $100 and it’s not a real commitment. Remember, it’s just paint and if you can paint it then you can repaint it. Try a new color to bring out subtleties in your room that normally get lost, warm up a room and add oomph by using a dark color, if you don’t want to commit then how about just painting an accent wall.

New Lighting. Light is one of the most overlooked decorating aspects of a home. People often think of their lighting as strictly functional and not aesthetic but to get an impression of what a difference lighting makes change the bulbs in your lamps to a very low watt and see how it makes the room feel. Then put really high wattage bulbs in and take note of the differences. Lighting is dramatic. To give your room a re-do with lighting, get new lamps, something dramatically different, and put them in new locations. Maybe you even want to add new light features to some artwork or backlight your bookshelves or furniture.

Move the Furniture. Rearranging your furniture not only gives your room a fresh, new look but also changes your perspective when you’re using that furniture. It can also change the room’s traffic flow, which adjusts the attitude the room emits. This quick fix is the most cost efficient way to rejuvenate a room but when combined with a couple other tricks you’ll have a remarkable transformation.

How To Hang Your Clothes

Find your things easily at a glance. Get colour-coded and get organised!

Fantastic Wine Cellars

Avid wine collector? Make sure you're not storing them the wrong way. This one's for you.

Tween Bedroom Decorating Ideas

Are you decorating the bedroom of your tween, who's not quite a baby but not quite a teenager? Don't make the mistake of turning it into a princess room unless you want her to say, "But mum, that is sooo 5 years ago!"

Article taken off zimbio.com


Cool Bedroom Designs That Teen Girls Will Love

The key to decorating a teen girl's bedroom is choosing colors, themes and interests that reflect their personality. Check out these pictures for inspiration:


Light, bright colors with white accents is feminine and cottage-style, but still age-appropriate.



Bright shades like lime green and hot pink are fun and bold.



Choose a distinct color scheme, and then add interest with different materials and patterns.



Like I said: keep her interests in mind!