Interior Design Minimalist

There are many ways to stretch a budget when it comes to decorating a home, and one of the easiest may be to create your own budget artwork.

If your finances have been blown on a move, wedding, furniture, or other necessities, you may be looking at bare walls and no money to decorate them.

You'll have to get creative and find or make some of your own budget artwork. How should you begin this project?

If you already know what style of decorating you like, you're in luck. It will make it much easier to select subjects, colors, mats, and frames for your art. If you're unsure or have an "eclectic" style (sometimes also known as a hodgepodge) you'll have to choose as you go along.

Floral artwork in carved, light-colored frames fit in with a cottage style. Black and white photos framed in simple metal work well in a contemporary setting. Country themes, weathered wood, antique or old fabrics go well in a country style home. Landscapes, botanical prints, and floral still life pictures fit into a traditional interior.

If you're ready to save some money and get something attractive up on your bare walls, read here for some creative ways to find artwork at budget prices, or no cost at all!

• Frame What's Free
  I get at least 5 calendars from companies at the end of every year. Many of the images presented are beautiful. Other sources of free art are creative menus, pretty party invitations, a puzzle you've put together, a collage of postcards from a trip, a diploma that you're proud of, or a patriotic or decorative flag. Pieces that are just decorative can be put directy into a frame off the shelf. Pieces that are more special should be mounted on acid-free mat board before framing.
  
• Items from Mother Nature
  You can mount any number of natural items in a standard frame or a shadowbox style. A beautiful arrangement at little or no cost can be made of pressed flowers or leaves, shells you've collected on a trip to the shore, interesting pods and seeds, pine cones, dried flowers, or even a freeze-dried corsage. Mount heavy items to a mat board using hot glue. White glue or a spray adhesive will work for lighter items.
• Use Your Camera
  Amateur photographers can capture the most interesting images. But if you're not feeling secure, ask a friend to take some pictures of flowers, houses, interesting buildings, sports equipment, or pretty settings. You can see that the possibilities are endless! Take the camera disk to a copy store and have the images printed in either black and white or color. Have the images enlarged to fit the space you have. For a series of photos, frame them in simple, identical frames, with coordinating mats. Be sure to shop around for frames. You'll be more likely to work within your budget if you select standard size frames. When assembled, the photos can be grouped on a large wall, hung along a hallway, or placed on shelves in a bookcase.
• Check Out Your Personal Library or Go to a Bookstore
  I know this may sound shocking to some of you who were taught to never deface a book, but you can find wonderful photos of famous paintings in large books. Subjects could be birds, furniture design, architectural structures, Impressionist era art, landscapes, quilts, and trains. Select pictures that will coordinate with your decorating scheme. You can find books with beautiful illustrations at garage sales, used book stores, or neighborhood library sales.
• Hang It Up
  Hang items directly on the wall. Beautiful plates are a natural, either in a vertical arrangement or randomly around a wall. Garage sales and flea markets offer lots of beautiful or interesting options for dishes, tableware, and other household items that can adorn a wall. Other choices might be flags, hats, model airplanes, pages of music, musical instruments, or toys.
• Creative Crafts
  If you do needlework, draw, make model airplanes, or have a collection of small items, they make a wonderful piece of art. Be sure you have the pieces mounted carefully and do not damage them when you frame them. This will provide a great way to display things that mean a lot to you and to show off your talents.

If you're like me, you love to have house guests! I like to help them feel especially welcome by preparing my guest room to make it comfortable when anyone pops in for a visit.

When you start to plan your guest room, think about what you'd expect to find in a 5-diamond hotel and try to make your room measure up to that standard. Your budget may not have enough in it to let you create a getaway oasis, but you can clear the decks, arrange what's necessary, and provide a quiet place to relax.

Read our list of things to do or buy to help you set up a comfortable guest room for your visitors.

• The Best Bed Your Money Can Buy

  Don't give your guest the oldest, most saggy mattress you have. If you can't afford a new or good used bed, think about getting a quality air mattress. They're really quite comfortable and can be placed on top of a box spring, over a sofa bed mattress, or on the floor.

• Bedding Upgrades

  Beyond clean bedding, think about adding wonderful bed linens and comfort items often supplied by fine B&B's: a featherbed mattress topper, a choice of pillows, a cozy down comforter, extra blankets, and freshly ironed pillowcases.

• Fresh Linens

  Always have an extra set of bed and bath linens available for your guests. Accidents DO happen! Or you may have one of those wonderful guests who insists on changing the sheets when they leave. Let them do it! And thank them profusely!

• A Place to Set Down a Suitcase

  Clear a space to put a luggage rack or a small table or bench to set down a suitcase. No one likes to have to stoop over to the floor to pull out a clean pair of socks. Even a chair is better than nothing!

• Clear the Decks

  Resist the temptation to put your beautiful collection of dolls on the dresser or fill the closet with out-of-season clothes. In a guest room, less is more--more space, more comfortable, and more welcoming. Get rid of anything that you would not find in the room of a fine hotel. Keep only the most useful items in the room, like a clock and calendar.

• A Comfy Place to Sit

  Some people absolutely do not sit on a bed! And your guests shouldn't have to. Place an upholstered armchair or side chair in the room with a table and lamp close by.

• Good Lighting

  It always amazes me when I walk into an otherwise nice hotel room and there's no light to read by! It's always nice to have a light control near the bed, so your guest won't have to stumble around in the dark, just to turn a light on. If nothing else, provide a good reading light near a chair or over the bed. Another fixture or lamp near the desk would be great. A small night light is helpful and a lighted magnifying make-up mirror is a real luxury!

• Hanging Clothes Storage

  If your guest room shares space with a home office, clear at least a foot or two of pole space in the closet. Or purchase an inexpensive over-the-door hook that can accommodate some hanging clothes. Don't forget a supply of 6 or 8 hangers. A simple hook on the wall or behind a closet door can hold a robe, coat, or a purse.

• Drawer Space

  If you have an extra chest of drawers, how perfect! But at least clear out one or two drawers for small items. Both you and your guest will feel better with odds and ends out of sight.

• Simple Basics

  I need to have a lighted clock next to my bed. An alarm clock or clock/radio is even better. Provide paper and pens or pencils, scissors, tape, tissue, and a hair dryer and have all the bases covered. If you don't have an extra iron and ironing board to offer, be sure to tell your guest where they can find yours. A phone in the room will be a much-appreciated bonus item. How about a pre-paid phone card and instructions on how to use it?

• Provide Privacy

  You might know that the big maple tree just outside the window camouflages everything going on, but your guest won't. Choose window coverings that not only add to the character of the room, but provide privacy and light control, as well. If you must keep it simple, a nice blind can offer works great. You can always add a beautiful valance or side panels later.

A boring table can take on a totally new and wonderful personality with a table skirt that goes to the floor. A skirted table can go into a bedroom as a bedside table or dressing table, a living room as a side table next to a chair or sofa, or as a festive dining table.

Because the table skirt completely covers the table, a skirted table is both inexpensive and versatile.

The condition of the table you use doesn't matter at all except that it must stand straight and securely on all legs so that it doesn't tip.

• Uses for a Skirted Table
  
  • Nightstand or Bedside Table
    A round, square, or rectangular table covered with a tablecloth makes a practical and inexpensive bedside table. Hide lamp cords and store books, tissue, or extra linens underneath.
  • Dining Table
    A skirted table in a dining room adds a wonderful air of luxury to the space. Keep in mind that the tablecloth might be in the way of chairs and knees. In order for the cloth to look good, set the chairs away from the table so the cloth can hang straight. For easy maintenance and daily use, place a piece of cut-to-order glass over the top.
  • Side Table in the Living Room
    Next to a chair or sofa, a skirted table adds color and mass and can fill a corner between seating furniture.
  • A Hall Table
    If you have a nice entry way, a skirted round table can be an impressive piece of furniture. Choose a beautiful bold fabric, cover the top with glass, add a vase of beautiful flowers and use the table for mail, keys, and gloves as needed.
  • Bathroom Table
    If you have an extra bit of space in a bathroom, a skirted table can provide storage space and hide towels, shampoo, and other bath necessities.
• Sizes for a Skirted Table
  
  • Choose a small plant stand for a skirted table next to a small chair.
  • A small kitchen table can be covered as a dramatic piece in an entry hall.
  • An old desk base can be covered to serve as a dressing table.
  • The standard height for a table is about 29" from the floor. Determine the height by the piece of furniture near where it will be placed. A bedside table should be about as high as the mattress of the bed. A side table should be about as high as the arm of the chair or sofa.
• Choose a Base Either Old or New
  
  • Pick up an old piece at a yard sale or flea market.
  • Bring a piece of patio furniture into the house.
  • A concrete or iron base with a plywood top cut to size is perfect.
  • Make a table yourself to get the perfect size. You can buy a base and table round in almost any home center or lumber yard.
  • Purchase a Ready To Cover table kit in just the right size for your skirted table.
  • For a square or rectangular table, cut the top from a piece of inexpensive 3/4" plywood. Screw legs into the bottom on all four corners.

Winter bedding is much like winter clothes. If you live in an area that has climate changes from season to season, you most likely have winter clothes and summer clothes. You may even have a special area to store out-of-season things. Isn't it logical that you'd also change the clothes on your bed when warm sunny evenings turn to chilly nights?

You'll find information about how to dress your bed for cold weather with new and not-so-new products for ultimate comfort.

From wool mattress pads and cushy feather beds to lie on, to soft flannel sheets, down comforters and fluffy, wool blankets, there are lots of products to choose from. Only you can decide what combination is the right one for you.

Read on to find just the right products that you can use to create a cocoon for a wonderful, cozy winter's rest.

* The Cozy Comfort of Down

Down is the light fluffy coating that protects birds from exposure to the outside elements, and it is probably the most popular product used for lightweight, warm blankets, comforters, and pillows.

Because down is able to retain just the right degree of warmth for most bodies, it's considered one of the most perfect products for comfortable bedding.

Down bedding products are manufactured in many qualities and prices vary drastically. Depending on your location, you should choose the weight and density for ultimate comfort. Down and feathers are combined for a less expensive product. The finest, most expensive products are made from 100% pure white goose down.

Down products are rated by "fill power". Pacific Coast Feather Company says that "fill power is a term used to describe the quality of down. The higher the fill power, the larger and stronger the clusters of down. Large clusters provide superior insulation, breathe better and last much longer than smaller, fragile down clusters."

Down blankets and comforters are sewn with baffles to keep the down filling evenly distributed. Baffle box construction means that the product has internal three-dimensional fabric wall boxes which allow for maximum thickness and comfort while maintaining even distribution within the boxes. Comforters and blankets with straight-through quilt stitching will have cold spots where there is no down.

Down comforters and blankets are sold in the same sizes as other blankets and bedding. Be sure to measure your bed carefully before you shop for a down blanket.

Down comforters are available in many colors, white being the most common.

If you choose not to use a sheet or other blankets with a down blanket or comforter, the comforter then becomes a "duvet." This simple blanket makes it easy for children to make their beds. A simple shake of the comforter over the bed is all that's necessary.

You might decide to cover your duvet with a duvet cover which is really just a big pillow case for a blanket. The cover can be plain fabric or decorative to compliment your room's decor.

People with allergies to animals might not be able to use down products. But the finest companies wash and rinse their down and feathers up to eight times, removing the dust, dirt and allergens that cause allergic reactions. Tightly woven fabric covers are leak proof, so down and feathers won't leak out.

Before You Start

When designing a guest room, hotels develop a color palette and scheme that fits with the hotel's theme or location (such as the desert or beach). Similarly, you will want to develop a plan for your private sanctuary that speaks to your inner self. The bedroom is typically a refuge or "decompression point" in the home. And unlike a hotel room that must please many people, your bedroom is the one place that is truly yours and can be a reflection of your taste and design style.

Have some fun and play with paint chips and patterns to come up with a scheme and color decision. Then follow these tips to make the space as luxurious and multi-functional as a first-class hotel room:

• Space
  In a hotel room, we take a small space and create a flexible haven for the guest for multiple activities. Do the same with your bedroom…You can create areas for sleeping (the bed), reading (seats), F&B (a coffee niche or mini refrigerator), working (desk) and grooming (the bath and closet). You can design this environment with any size room. First step is to decide which activities you want to perform (aside from sleeping!) and plan space accordingly.
• The Not-So-Obvious Keys to Comfort
  Review the room’s acoustics, ventilation and system controls. If possible, add extra insulation between walls, install upgraded carpet pad, add fabric walls with padded upholstered wall panels or on the headboard. These steps help increase comfort. In addition, room should be ventilated correctly - common mistakes are air vents blowing over the bed. Place your bed away from air vents and make sure you have access to fresh air. Add concealed speakers at key areas for a sound system and if possible, a fireplace is always a nice feature on a cold snowy night along with a heated towel rack in your bathroom. Install a bedside three-way switching control that is located above the nightstand for easy access.
• Light it Up!
  In first-class hotel rooms, the following techniques are often utilized:
  • Three-way switch at entry for bedside lamp
  • Closet light that turns on automatically when door is opened
  • Reading lights at bed that are individually controlled
  • Ample lighting in bathroom - lighted makeup mirror, wall sconces and overhead lighting at vanity, lighting in tub area and lighting under vanity for night light
  • Dimmer controls on everything!
• Late Night Snacks
  Incorporate a station for coffee, beverages and snacks. If you want to really get snazzy, add a mini bar or wine cooler, and a sink (can be located near bathroom entry). What better way to relax than not having to go the kitchen for a cool beverage!
• Incorporate Flexibility
  Think "multi-use." Incorporate a pivoting desk so you can watch television (or the sunset) while working on those expense reports. If there is room for additional seating, rather than a standard chair, use either a chaise lounge, built in seating or two upholstered chairs with leather ottomans. Ottoman can be used to rest tired feet, as a surface for a board game or as a dining surface. Also, add a mirror above the desk so you can use it as a make-up vanity if your better half has control of the bathroom!
• Natural Light
  Ensure drapery treatments stack past windows to maximize views. Include sun control such as Mecco Shades. Ensure that drapery panels overlap at least 4" at center draws so that a "blackout" environment can be maintained when you want to snooze. Plus, line the drapery panels with a top-notch liner! And as an over-the-top idea, motorize window treatments with open/close switches at entry and bedside.
• The Bed
  
  • Step 1: Buy the best bed you can. This will be the best investment you have ever made for your peace of mind. Consider a pillow top.
  • Step 2: Do away with the bedspread. Use a dust skirt and making the bed becomes a breeze, believe me - making up beds is our forte!!!
  • Step 3: We purchase top quality bedding, including 300 thread count sheets and duvets. You should do the same as it is worth it.
  • Step 4: Add throw pillows for color and pizzazz and include a throw blanket at the end of bed to protect that duvet and provide a cozy cover-up while reading a book in your favorite chair!
• Lastly: Make it Personal and Unique
  Many hotel rooms feature regional art and local interest magazines so a guest feels a connection with the city they are visiting. For your own room, remember--Whether it is a favorite painting, family photographs, a book shelf with your favorite books, don't be afraid to include those special items in your decorating scheme so you feel connected and at peace.

Bed skirts are designed to hide a bed's box spring or foundation. An additional benefit is that a bed skirt on a bed allows you to use the space under the bed to store things out of sight but easily accessible.

For home decor, a bedskirt offers a way to add style, pattern, and color to the bedroom.

A bedskirt can be tailored with pleats or a flat panel, gathered into ruffles, or combining several layers of coordinating fabrics.

When you're planning to buy a bed skirt for your bed, there are several things to consider.

• Size
  Don't just guess that your queen size bed is 60" wide and 80" long. Mattresses, box springs and foundations can vary slightly in size. It's important to get the right size of bedskirt so thatit will hang properly on your bed.

• Drop
  When speaking of the drop of a bed skirt (or a table cloth), we're referring to the measurement from the top of the foundatino to teh floor. A standard measurement for ready-made bed skirts is 15", but they do vary. If your "drop" measurement is 16", the standard bed skirt will not go all the way to the floor. If your "drop" measurement is 14" the bed skirt will drag on the floor.

• Color
  A solid color bed skirt is a versatile choice for a bed skirt. If you select a light color such as white, pink, yellow, or other pastel, be sure that the bed skirt is lined or made of a heavy fabric so that light does not show through from under the bed.

• Pattern
  A bedskirt is a great place to use an interesting pattern, stripe, plaid, check, or texture. This can either complement or contrast with other fabrics in the room.

• Texture
  A bed skirt made with heavy-textured fabric will keep its shape and stand fresh for a number of years. You'll only need to take it off for cleaning. Fabrics like chenille, velvet, faux suede, and matelasse work well.

• Ready-Made Bed Skirts
  When you're buying sheets or a comforter, you will often find a matching bed skirt. But beware! Most of these pieces are made out of inexpensive fabrics and will not give a good look when placed on the bed. And often, the pattern may be the same or similar but the fabric may be of an inferior quality and the piece will not hold up. Be sure that you can return any piece that is not correct.

• Finishing Touches for Bed Skirts
  A plain bed skirt can be embellished to look custom-made with the addition of a trim of lace, an overlay of eyelet or sheer fabric, ribbon trim, or beaded trims. Experiment for a custom look, then buy the materials you'll need.

• Don't Settle Until the Bed Skirt is Perfect
  Once you've decided on the right size, good color, interesting fabric, and finishing touches, take a few minutes to press the bed skirt. It will hang off the side of the bed better when you eliminate unsightly wrinkles and look much more professional.

A bedroom should be a personal getaway, a sanctuary, which expresses your favorite colors, feelings, and collections. Learn the main rules to remember when decorating your bedroom.

* Choose Subtle Color

Instead of bold primary colors, choose soothing shades and a restful palate of monochromatic tones. Remember color theory: gentle hues of blue, lavender, or green are considered calm and serene. Rich jewel-toned hues help set the mood of coziness and comfort. These might include toasty browns, deep pomegranate, or topaz. Use toned-down versions of your favorite colors in the bedroom." That might mean choosing mauve instead of eggplant, or pumpkin instead of tangerine.

* Don't Overlook the Ceiling

The ceiling is a fifth wall in a room. When you lie in bed, do you see a bland, blank surface? Add a subtle pattern or soft color. Paint the ceiling a slightly lighter version of the wall color. This will help to visually lower the ceiling and give the space a feeling of comfort and intimacy.

Other solutions would be to stencil or wallpaper the ceiling, add architectural elements in the form of beams or moldings or use a decorative paint treatment. For ultimate luxury, silver-leafed bedroom ceilings, a canopy or tented bed with dressing that hangs from the ceiling can envelope you in sensuality and warmth while adding texture, design, and color to the ceiling. Add a molded medallion and chandelier of crystal or delicate shades bringing color, pattern and texture to the "fifth wall" above you.

* Keep the Bedroom Simple

A bedroom should look cozy and simple, sophisticated, and elegant, regardless of what style of decorating you choose. For ease of movement, leave a minimum of three feet between the bed and side walls or large pieces of furniture and at least two feet between the bed and low furniture like tables and dressers. If you have to walk around the bed to get from the closet to the bathroom, think how you can move the bed.

Furnish your bedroom with only what you need. A bed, a bedside table or two, a dresser, and chair are necessities. Anything else is clutter. If you have room, place a chest of drawers in the closet.

Accessories should be kept at a minimum. Choose a beautiful piece of artwork, arrange some family photos, add flowers and candles, and leave it alone.

* Choose the Right Size Furniture

When you're ready to buy bedroom furniture, start out with a floor plan and a measured drawing of the space. Furniture should fit the room it lives and this is particularly true for bedroom furniture. Don't choose a heavy, large bed and dresser for a small bedroom. If the ceiling is high, a tall headboard will help to visibly bring it down to size.

If your bedroom is large, choose furniture that fits it, too. Add a chair and ottoman or place a piece of furniture at the end of the bed. Furniture and accessories that are too small will look lost in a large room.

* Have Plenty of Storage

To add to the serene feeling of a bedroom, store things out of sight. The room will appear more calm and roomy.
o Choose a roomy bedside table with drawers or doors behind which you can hide books, lotion, and reading glasses within reach but out of sight. For more storage, choose a skirted table or a small dresser with drawers.
o Use a trunk or a storage bench at the foot of the bed to store extra sheets, blankets, and pillows.
o For easily-reachable books and accessories, use a headboard with built-in shelves or sliding panels.
o A custom-designed organization system can make maximum use of closet space.
o Place shallow boxes underneath the bed hiding them with a beautiful bed skirt.

* Include a Private Nook

Give yourself a special gift with a quiet place to sit and read. Create an intimate reading or lounging area with a comfortable chair and foot stool at the end of your bed or in a corner.

If you have room, build a window seat under the bedroom window. Enjoy the view and the natural light.


* Indulge in Luxurious Linens

Outfit your bedroom with beautiful and luxurious fabrics. There's nothing that adds comfort to a bedroom like beautiful linens. Don't buy sheets that are less than 100 percent cotton or linen with high thread counts of 350 or more. For sheets that feel like they came from a 5-star hotel, send them to the dry cleaner for professional washing and pressing, which doesn't cost much, but creates a crisp smoothness worthy of the Ritz.

Add other sensual feeling fabrics through the bedroom with a soft mohair or cashmere throw on the arm of a reading chair, cover the walls with silk or textured wall coverings, hang silk draperies or a silk bed canopy, or add plush floor coverings.

* Cover the Windows

A beautifully dressed window will help to frame the window and the view and provide other ways to add color, pattern, texture, and softness to a bedroom. If you love soft sheer curtains that filter light, combine opaque roller blinds that can be pulled down to maintain privacy at night and to block morning light.

For all draperies, include opaque blinds or drapery lining to keep out the sun when you want to sleep late.

* Include Several Lighting Options

In a bedroom, it's good to "layer" your lighting throughout the room. Ambient lighting light the whole room, small lamps can focus light for reading and other activities, and accent light helps to wash the walls in soft illumination.

To focus reading light where you need it, use a bedside lamp with a movable arm. Each light should be adjustable with a dimmer. Install a separate on/off switch for each light so that you can be selective and light only the area you want.

* Let Your Bedroom Be a Real Getaway

Try to discipline yourself to keep your cell phone, computer, television, exercise machine, or blackberry out of the bedroom. Create a cherished place to relax and renew. You'll love having a room dedicated to reading, sleeping and romance.