Kitchen With A Conscience

Give your kitchen a green makeover with these eco-friendly tips. If doing everything all at once is too much, try replacing one or two of your appliances with these green items and gradually work your way towards a green kitchen.



Article taken off home-interiors.suite101.com

Creating a Eco-Friendly Kitchen Design?

Kitchen renovations can be more eco-friendly with just some additional planning. Appliances can be selected that are approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)'s Energy Star program that use 10-50 percent less energy and water than standard models. By doing this is should be possible to able to reduce the kitchen’s energy costs. Other ways to create a green or eco-friendly kitchen design can include use of improved insulation and installing thermally efficient doors and windows.

Energy-Efficient Stove Cooktops
One element of an eco-friendly kitchen design that needs to be considered is the use of energy-efficient stove cooktops. These cooktops are available in many varieties. A cooktop that is both energy-efficient and that will also one's culinary needs must be selected. There are two kinds of stove cooktops, gas and electric. Many professional and gourmet cooks have always preferred the use of gas ranges over electric ranges because of the ease of use and control they offer. For many green kitchen design experts the electric cooktop is more eco-friendly in the long run. However for many of the cooks who must have a gas cooktop they can simply select a more energy-efficient gas cooktop with the lowest BTU.

Induction stove tops are considered to be the latest in technology. They use electricity to produce an electromagnetic energy that transfers the heat to the pots and pans. The cookware and the food gets hot, but the stove-top doesn’t. Less heat is wasted and the food heats up faster, helping to save time and energy. Induction cooking is considered to be about 90 percent energy efficient when compared to gas and electric radiant, that are 50 to 60 percent efficient. The problem could be that this might be the most expensive choice. Metal cookware must be used like cast iron, stainless steel or enamel, but not glass or aluminum.

Use Eco-Friendly Flooring Materials
The use of flooring materials that are manufactured from rapidly renewing forests can provide your kitchen with a beautiful, affordable, durable, and eco-friendly floor. Bamboo, cork, and eucalyptus reach maturity in about half the time that is usually required for more traditional hardwoods like pine or oak, making it a more sustainable product than traditional hardwoods.

For instance bamboo is a popular choice of many kitchen design professionals because it is so durable, and is just as dent resistant as hardwood floors. Using cork for kitchen flooring can provide a comfortable cushioned feel underfoot. Cork is a renewable resource that comes from the bark of trees. It has good sound-absorbing qualities, is hypoallergenic and resistant to mold and mildew, all of which makes cork an good choice for kitchens.

Lighting Ideas for Eco-Friendly Kitchens
Most kitchen designs often will have two or three light settings such as general, task lighting, and mood lighting. Try to maximize natural light wherever possible and low voltage systems for task and mood lighting. To help reduce your kitchen lighting costs, you might want to consider using fluorescents. They cut energy use by 50 percent.

A Splashy Kitchen Affair

Kitchens can be messy. Do you have to resort to dark colours just to downplay the grease and other stains which are inevitable in the kitchen? Of course not! That's what backsplashes are for.




Unique Kitchen Backsplash Ideas

There are many unique kitchen backsplash ideas that will really stand out in the room while also serving the functional purpose of the backsplash.

Kitchen backsplashes can be functional and decorative. The purpose of the backsplash is to protect the walls and from splatters and spills around the counter and stove area. Homeowners have a wide array of choices when it comes to unique kitchen backsplash ideas as it is not necessary to stick to plain white tile backsplashes or dull ceramic ones. Instead one can choose from one of the unique ideas below or use some creativity and come up with their own.

Glass Tile Backsplashes
Glass tile can add some color into a kitchen. They come in a variety of colors to fit any style of kitchen. They can be used to create a monochromatic look or several different colors can be used in a preset or random pattern. Glass tiles can be easily installed by a homeowner if they are looking for a unique kitchen backsplash but also want to save money.

Painted Tile Backsplashes
It is not very hard to paint ceramic tiles. A great kitchen backsplash idea for a family home is to have family members including kids decorate the tiles and add them into the backsplash. The painted tiles can be added every so often to give the kitchen a personalized touch. If the homeowner is an artist or knows someone who paints well, they can also have the tiles painted with cute designs that go with the style of the kitchen. For example, a country kitchen could have ceramic tiles painted with baskets, roosters, the American flag, or flowers.

Broken Mosaic Tile Backsplashes
Instead of simply having mosaic tile as a kitchen backsplash a person can break the tiles and then randomly place them on the wall. This is definitely a more modern style for a contemporary or modern kitchen. This style can also be accomplished quite easily by the homeowner and looks a lot more expensive that it really is.

Stainless Steel Backsplashes
A stainless steel kitchen backsplash fits into a contemporary style kitchen as well as a rustic kitchen. They look great with kitchens that have stainless steel appliances as they bring the whole look together. These types of backsplashes are durable and easy to clean with stainless steel cleaners. Although this may sound appealing to some people, stainless steel can get expensive, so large areas of the wall may be quite expensive to make into stainless steel backsplashes.

Stone Backsplashes
A stone kitchen backsplash adds some variety into the kitchen. With stone a person never knows what kind of pattern or colors that the end product will come out with. Stone goes great with rustic or Mediterranean style kitchens. It can come in a variety of colors from tan and brown to red and black.

The Shape and Style of Penny Tiles
Mosaic tiles have been used for centuries as a floor covering, a decorative art, or a wall tile. Today's unique tile designs update this retro tile look with penny tiles.
If a homeowner really wants unique kitchen backsplash ideas that no one else will have, the best place is to use one of these ideas and then build off it. A person can even combine two of the design ideas and make their own personal backsplash that represents their style.

Increasing Home Value Through Decor

Before selling or renting out your house, try sprucing it up a little with these tips to fetch a higher selling or rental price.

Article taken off ezinearticles.com

Decorating To Increase House Value

When it comes time to sell a home, everyone looks for inexpensive ways they can increase home value before the realtor comes in and does their own appraisal. Did you know that home decor plays a major role in buyer attraction?

The things that will turn a buyer off (unusual, non-neutral paint colours, personal pictures, worn out furniture) can be turned around and used to attract buyers-we want a house we could really picture ourselves in! There are a few decorating tricks that can be done throughout your home that add far more value than the money spent updating. For example, you may know that the kitchen is the most valuable room in the house, and naturally the first room buyers are attracted to; therefore, small updates to the kitchen decor will increase the value of your home overall. This article has a few valuable decorating ideas to increase buyer attention.

Since we mentioned the kitchen first, we will start with kitchen and dining room decor. Kitchens and dining rooms don't have to feature contemporary style to be updated. There is a difference between updated decor and timeless decor. If a feature in your kitchen is "dated" as in it doesn't flow with any theme, modern or classic, because it was bought in a past decade and popular in a past decade, it needs to be changed out.

Unfortunately, kitchen cabinetry falls into this category first. One amazing transformation you can make to cabinetry that appears outdated in anyway is to stain the wood another colour or paint the wood a solid white or black and replace all of the hand pulls.

If you can afford it, new appliances from a microwave, stove/oven, and refrigerator will have a direct affect on all of the kitchen decor. An outdated stove sticks out like a wound in kitchen decorating. Here is a really cool affordable solution: you can actually buy adhesive stainless aluminium sheeting that can be cut and stuck to an outdated fridge or dishwasher to make appliances look like stainless steel. Also, a more affordable change you should consider is adding in a backsplash and new kitchen countertops. These two changes are a couple of the first that interior designers consider for adding value in a kitchen.

For dining room tables and kitchen tables, you won't necessarily have to spring for new furnishings, but instead find some affordable tableware and table linens that make the room feel more formal and useful for entertaining. A table with a stylish tablecloth, placemats, linen napkins, and a table runner with tableware will look dinner ready, and increase tasteful style appeal, which in turn increases value.

Here are few bathroom-decorating tricks that increase value. Repainting the walls is always a plus, and be sure all of the grout between the tiles in the shower or bathtub area looks clean and new. Nobody likes gross grout. Also, replacing old dingy shower curtains with a new contemporary shower curtain is an immediate and smart transformation in bathroom decor. Replace faucet fixtures if they appear outdated, but if they are not outdated, faucet fixtures should "look" new with a good cleaning.

Finally, a custom built cabinet around the sink will immediately increase the value if it looks like an invested update. Bathroom cabinetry is very often a decade faux pa. You can probably build a new designer-looking cabinet between $50-$100 easily. What is easiest bathroom remodeling trick that increases bathroom value? Frame in an unframed mirror with black or white 2" wood trim.

Lighting is also a very affordable fix and sometimes makes a untold huge amount of importance to buyers. New lighting makes a house one step closer to being move-in ready putting your home immediately above consideration of a comparable home that needs a lot of updating in the home decor.

Repainting all walls neutral tones and fixing up any minor decor problems (incomplete wood floor jobs, refinishing floors, patching holes, steam cleaning dirty carpets) will add value to your home. Nurseries once painted very nursery-like colours should be repainted like you would when leaving an apartment. De-cluttering doesn't attract buyers' attention as much as it avoids distracting and upsetting buyers.

Providing a clean welcoming feel in every room is important in bringing in buyers. Add pillows and throws to couches and beds. Replace outdated or worn bedding with new bed linens. Add headboards to beds and seat cushions and toss pillows to trunks to make a seating bench instead of having an awkward item taking up room. Every room and every item needs to serve a valuable purpose when selling a home.

(Red) Carpet Treatment

Buying the wrong carpet can be a costly mistake. So what are the things you should look out for?



Article taken off lifestyle.iloveindia.com


Carpet Buying Tips

Carpets and rugs add luxurious look and brighten up dull flooring in an instant. It can also make a sparsely furnished room look fuller and cozier. Fancy Persian carpets and bright-colored carpets from Kashmir can lend an oriental touch to the home décor and interior designing. Selecting the right carpet for your house however, depends on many things like the measurement of the room, the area to be covered, color co-ordination, etc. An eye for details such as any damage, loops that are used and other such things is required and helps when you are buying carpets for your home. Given below are some tips that will tell you how to buy carpets for your home.
Measure the area of the room to be covered with carpet beforehand for better estimates of carpet size needed and price incurred for it. Carpet suppliers and fitters are more experienced in taking the exact measurements to prevent any wastes and disputes later on.

Carpets can be used as flooring or even as wall covering to cover the chipped paint areas.

Rough price estimates can be calculated by multiplying square yard/s of the area to be covered with the price of the carpet per square yard. Do not forget to add sales taxes, underlay and installation charges.
You may also fix a budget limit and then estimate the size of the carpet you can afford and incorporate it in your room décor. This works better for smaller budget decorations for home, where you may just lay the carpet under the coffee table or the seating area instead of using it as flooring for the entire room.
Laying carpet is an art and a plan will help you in avoiding or minimizing the chances of wastage or seams and better fittings of the carpet.

Make a detailed enquiry about the estimate, type and quantity of carpet, manufacturer’s name and code, width and color of the carpet, description of underlay and cost estimates that include the underlay, installation and tax charges before ordering and laying of the carpet.

Besides measuring the exact size of the carpet, ask the fitter beforehand for the date and time for delivery and fitting the carpet and whether there will be separate charges for related work needed to be done such as moving furniture from the room and back in it and removing doors and putting them back.

Carpet installers can also advice you on seams and width of the carpet that you must choose, according to the area or space to be covered. Sewn seams often cost more than stuck seams, so enquire about that too.

Patterns on carpet may make it necessary for more careful installation to match the two pieces to make the pattern at the joint look whole and the perfection in matching the direction of the pattern.

Magical Mediterranean

Candelabras,rugs and candle sticks - nothing says warm and inviting like a Mediterranean look!



Article taken off ezinearticles.com

A Mediterranean Look For New Home Decor

If you are thinking of changing the style of your lounge in your home, then why not use a Mediterranean look. Mediterranean homes give a warm and inviting feel to them. Here are a few ideas that will help to give your living room some style.

Invest in some unique plants. Some plants can give a healthy environment to a room, such as, the Bamboo Palm tree. This is a tall tree that is toxic free. Toxic free plants will absorb large amounts of particles from the air and will leave a room fresh and clean. Flowery plants will enhance a room with color giving it a happier and brighter environment. Fill some of your green plants into terracotta pots and spread them around, filling the empty spaces in the room. Place a large flowery plant on a floral area rug, preferably a round rug. Place a bamboo palm plant on an area rug, as this will look great.

Some people have terracotta or wood floors and use area rugs, instead of having carpet. A large patterned rug in the middle of a lounge with a coffee table on it gives a cosy effect to any room. Also, use smaller area rugs to enhance the empty spaces. Use terracotta pots and pottery vases to decorate the room and use area rugs with them. Place one on a small circular are rug to give a Mediterranean feel to the room. If you bought pottery pots from either Cyprus or Greece, then use them to enhance the room with your area rug.

Decorate the room with wrought iron, candelabras and white statue ornaments. Spread them around the room. Candle sticks on a window seal is a good idea with an area rug beneath it.

Complement the room with colorful cushions and throws. Bright colors like mauve and red are best. Why not have a side chair made from cane or even a wrought iron chair and fill it with a cushion or two for show. Place the chair on an area rug.

You can, also, hang tapestry on the walls. Bright designs are good. This will give a desirable look around the room. Oil paintings on the walls will, also, enhance the room and give it a great feel to a Mediterranean look.

Wicker furniture can give a Mediterranean style look too. Perhaps, a coffee table made of wicker over your large square or circular patterned area rug will do the trick. Also, add a small wicker side table with a circular area rug under it and place a plant onto it.

White, also, gives the room a bright look. Most Mediterranean homes are decorated with white walls, so have the room painted white everywhere. Even white curtains hanging off a wrought iron curtain pole will look desirable. White Nylon hanging over patio doors can be effective too. Also, shutters placed on windows and doors is a very Mediterranean stylish look. An area rug nearby a patio door will look great.

There are many ways to make a room look more Mediterranean. Look at some holiday brochures of villas in Europe. Greece and Cyprus have a more Mediterranean look to their homes with many of the above ideas. Area rugs are the most enhancing feature for a Mediterranean feel and can easily be acquired quite easily. Area rugs are used all the time abroad in most villas, so it is a feature for any Mediterranean style room.

Interior Design has never been this easy with these rugs. Be sure to take a look at this wool rugs for the latest information.

Kitchen Dos and Don'ts

If you are the long lost twin of Nigella Lawson, you would surely spend many of your waking hours whipping up some delicious creation or other. Make sure the kitchen doesn't get in your way with these tips!




Article taken off ezinearticles.com

Some Basic Kitchen Décor Do's and Don'ts

Getting the kitchen right can be no small feat of engineering; all that complicated kit, plus gas, electricity and water to connect. Not to mention the major inconvenience while work is in progress. Here're some basic dos and don'ts of kitchen decor which I'd like to share:

The Dos

o Remember to keep your oven and grill quite separate from the fridge. This is not to save confusion after a few glasses of wine - it's actually much more energy-efficient.

o Employ a well qualified fitter to connect the gas, a qualified electrician to deal with all your electrics and a recommended plumber to sort your water supply, waste and drainage.

o Ensure any wall-hung units are securely bolted into something super-solid that can take the weight, like a brick or wood. You can't hang cupboards on plasterboard.

o Invest in the best possible worktop you can afford. It has a lot of visual impact and can make or break the room. This is not the place to skimp.

o Buy a dishwasher - Life is too short to wash up!

o Plan for plenty of sockets on the walls above your worktop. Perfectly positioned for appliances, you'll never regret having too many.

The Don'ts

o Go mad for wall-hung cupboards in a narrow space, as they'll instantly make it seem even smaller. Try open shelving instead.

o Carpet the kitchen. Just like bathrooms. This is a potentially wet-mess zone. Your flooring needs to be hard-wearing, hygienic and practical.

o Position your dishwasher miles from the sink. It'll be a lot easier to install if it's next to the sink's plumbing and you'll have less floor to drip on if you rinse before you load.

o Hang wall cabinets above a hob or oven, or place your hob or oven directly under a window. You should never give your self a reason to reach across a hot hob, so no putting your utensil rack on the wall behind either!

o Have fussy window coverings in the kitchen - they'll be dirt magnets. If privacy allows, do way with curtains altogether or opt for blinds.

o Forget storage. Neither glistening stainless steel or fancy gadgets will compensate for inadequate storage. Allow a minimum of one cupboard or set of drawers for each of the following: everyday crockery, everyday cooking utensils, additional crockery, additional utensils (e.g. cake tins and juicer), dry food, cleaning products/buckets etc (this can go under the sink).

Making Informed Decisions On Leather Furniture

What's aniline dye? What's protected leather? Find out how to make informed decision on leather furniture.

Cooking Up A Storm....Outdoor!

Need a new idea to entertain guests and your extended family members? Well, if you have sufficient place, you might just want to convert your kitchen to an outdoor area where there'll be plenty of room to mingle and chat with guests.

Fresh Fruits As Centrepieces

Simple, nice to look at, plus, they're actually good for you.



Article taken off interiordec.about.com

How To Use Fresh Fruit For A Centerpiece

Difficulty: Easy

What You Need:

Container
One or many types of very fresh fruit
Leaves
A small towel or foam pad
Scissors or clippers

Here's How:

Look at your room's or table's color scheme and decide what fruits will look best. Citrus run yellow, orange, and green. Apples, grapes, persimmon, pomegranates are reds, purple, and pink.

Select a container that will allow the fruits to show. A clear footed bowl will stand off the table and the fruits will show through the glass. A decorative bowl will allow the fruits to show only at the top. You decide what will be best for your setting.

Measure the height and width of the container. You'll need to buy enough fruit to fill it generously.
Select the chosen fruit at a grocery store or farmer's market. Stick to inexpensive basics for filling the container. You might see some unusual fruits that you had not thought of, like star fruit, kiwi, or mangoes. If there is something interesting that will enhance your color scheme, buy one or two for accents.

Find fruit with leaves or cut some greenery from bushes around your home. You'll use these to fill in the gaps between the fruit. Be sure to rinse and dry the leaves before placing them in the arrangement.

Place a small pad or small folded towel in the bottom of your container to protect delicate fruit. If the container is clear, be sure to camouflage the pad with leaves. If the container is opaque, you can build up the bottom to save on fruit.

Carefully arrange the fruits in the container. Save the best looking pieces for the top where they'll show the most. If the pieces do not stay in place, secure them to each other with a few toothpicks.

Arrange sprigs of leaves between the fruits at all layers and insert some nice sprigs between the fruits on the top.

Place the finished arrangement in its intended place. This type of arrangement can be easily moved from room to room as needed.

Check the arrangement regularly and replace rotting or withering fruits as needed.
Do not eat the fruit when you disassemble the arrangement. Dispose of the pieces as they age.

Tips:

Select fruits that coordinate with your room or table linens.

Make an arrangement of all one type of fruit for a color statement or select different varieties of fruit for extra interest and texture.

If you can do it easily, place the arrangement in a refrigerator or other cool place when not on display. This will keep it fresh longer and retard rotting.

Check daily for freshness and replace the fading fruit.

Minimalist or Bare?

Is it possible to carry a minimalist look too far? What's the difference between a minimalist look and a simply bare room?



Article taken off ehow.com

How to Recognize Minimalist Style

Minimalism is exactly what it sounds like - minimal items or patterns showing in the decor. Here's how to identify minimalist style.

1. Inventory the room visually. Furnishings will be spare and spaced widely apart in the minimalist room.

2. Study the furniture. Its lines will usually be simple, perhaps Parsons-table styling or classic pieces such as Asian, Chippendale or American primitive antique pieces.

3. Check out the accessories. A minimalist room will have very few tabletop accessories, and they will usually be of simple styling themselves. Often you will see a platter with one to three pieces of fruit on it as a centerpiece, or there may be no adornment at all on the furniture.

4. Ask yourself if there is clutter in a particular room. The minimalist room will be free from collections of figurines, groupings of pictures, stacks of toss pillows, elaborate floral arrangements, busy wreaths or ornately painted furniture.

5. Look for an absence of layers. Many other styles layer tablecloths, bedding and other items; minimalist does not.

6. Examine the windows. Simple shades, venetian blinds, tab-top curtains or grommet-topped curtains are prime examples of best-dressed minimalist windows - or the windows can even be left bare.

Garment Storage Tips

Store your garments appropriately and they will continue to remain beautiful for years to come.

Article taken off www.garmentcare.info

Clothing Storage Tips
If you live in a climate where there is more than one season, you should store off-season clothing carefully to avoid damage from insects, mildew and mold. Be sure to wash and dry all garments thoroughly before storing. Do not store clothes in plastic bags or airtight containers. Rattan trunks are perfect for storing clothing, as they allow the clothing to breathe when air circulates through the rattan. Here are a few tips for safe storage of different types of clothing.

Leather and suede should be stored in a closet that is cool and well ventilated. The garments are best covered with white muslin that’s been washed. Supple leather garments should be laid flat and padded well with white tissue.
Rayon should also be stored flat. If the garment has to be hung, pad it with white tissue and cover it with clean, white muslin.

Linen garments should be rolled. If you feel you must fold them, be sure to refold often to avoid fabric from becoming permanently creased. Always cover with white muslin that’s been washed.

Knitted and silk fabrics should always be stored flat. If you feel you must hang these garments, be sure to pad well with white tissue and cover it with clean, white muslin.

Garments made of metallic fabric should be rolled with clean, white muslin or tissue paper separating each layer.

Fur garments need to be stored in a cool, dark place. Cover fur with clean, white muslin. However when storing fur, professional cold storage is best.
Wool should be thoroughly cleaned, padded and wrapped in white tissue. Add mothballs to the storage area to prevent moth damage.


More Storage Tips:

When storing garments, use a chemical desiccant to absorb moisture and prevent mildew. Do not let the desiccant touch the garments. Examples of chemical desiccant are calcium chloride or silica gel.

Reduce dampness in closets by tying pieces of chalk together and hanging them from a support post or from the ceiling.

If the weather in your area is cool and dry, be sure your storage areas are well ventilated.

Always store garments loosely so they can breathe and air can circulate. Never use fabric finish or starch on garments that are to be stored.

Protect clothing from wood acid by lining dresser drawers with an acid free shelf paper or quilted fabric. Never use wallpaper remnants or gummed shelf paper. The backing will attract insects to your clothing.

Always clean garments that are to be stored. Insects are attracted to drink, food and perspiration.

Areas where garments are stored should be dark and clean. Light fades colors and attracts insects.


Never store clothing in a cold basement or hot attic. Extreme temperatures will damage your clothes.

Cotton, linen, silk and wool are all natural fibers. Always store these in a well ventilated area.

To rid garments of wrinkles when they come out of storage, put them in the dryer on the fluff or air dry cycle that has no heat.

When adding mothballs to a storage area, place them in an old sock so they don’t touch the garments.

If you’re using moth crystals, put them on the adhesive backing of duct tape and hang them in the storage area.


For more on storage tips click here

We're Gonna Rock This Country

You may prefer the more fashion-forward and artistic home decor styles, but admit it, you have a little bit of country in you as well, doncha sweetheart?



5 Affordable Country Style Decorating Ideas

Inexpensive country decorating ideas that anyone can implement themselves. There's a reason why so many people enjoy sneaking away for a weekend at a country inn- it's because the welcoming and cozy atmosphere of a country style retreat is comforting, relaxing and entirely pleasurable. Likewise, country style decorating in one's own home can create a warm ambiance that is attractive for both guests and those who live in the home. Perhaps most importantly, do-it-yourself home decorators can implement easy country decorating ideas that will have the desired effect without costing a fortune. The 5 affordable country decorating ideas below can enable both homeowners and renters to create a space that they will enjoy for years to come.

1- Choose the right country-style cabinet hardware. Homeowners looking to turn their existing space into a country paradise can easily introduce a rustic feel by changing their cabinet hardware. The warm hues of copper cabinet hardware make it an obvious (and effortless) choice for those who want to instantly change the look of their space. Many bronze hardware options are also suitable for country decorating. Ideas for the actual style of the hardware can range from dramatic cup pulls to romantic floral cabinet hardware, depending on the homeowner's preference. Fortunately, many cabinet hardware manufacturers such as Amerock Hardware, Belwith Hardware and others offer a wide selection of suitable options starting as low as $2 a piece.

2- Decorate with candles. Few things say 'country style decorating' like strategically placed scented or colored candles. To create a completely idyllic environment, place the candles in sleek glass holders and complement them with matching potpourri vessels or wrap the candle with a bow in a contrasting color.

3- Invest in a baker's rack. In addition to creating an inviting space, many homeowners (and renters) can also benefit from creating a more efficient space- and baker's racks can be the perfect solution to this problem. Baker's racks offer a way to display things that deserve and to prominently store things that would otherwise be stashed away and forgotten about. Baker's racks are inexpensive and can be placed in kitchens, hallways and dining rooms, making them one of the most versatile country decorating ideas.

4- Purchase rustic linens. The welcoming nature of a country-style room is enhanced by the addition of country-inspired linens. Whether you enjoy the look and feel of a dramatic country-style quilt or even small bucolic dishtowels, your room will become instantly warmer with the addition of rustic linens. As an alternative to an expensive quilt, consider a smaller quilted wall hanging which can dramatize the room without adding drama to your budget.

5- Install wrought iron lighting. Wrought iron lighting serves a double purpose- it makes a room seem larger and more hospitable and it can also add a necessary style addition to any country home. From affordable wrought iron lamps to grand wrought iron chandeliers, consumers can find country-style lighting that will make an elegant statement in any space.

Considering the vast and varied options that are available today, consumers can find innumerable country style decorating accessories that will make an immediate and remarkable impression on any space. Do-it-yourself designers need only an open mind and a bit of creativity to create the rustic space of their dreams.

For more on country style, take a look at this Cocoon country style article.