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That is the question. Antiques are very valuable these days and antique furniture can rank high in their value, but if you find a treasure and it's in not so good condition (all it needs is a touchup) what do you do? There are some camps say a big NO to stripping or refinishing antiques as it can decrease the value and the other camps say that it is fine to refinish antiques, saying that it doesn't affect the value at all. Let's look at both sides of the story and then you can decide for yourself if you are lucky enough to find yourself with this dilemma.

The argument for not stripping or refinishing is that it will ruin the patina (the mellow look that the wood takes that has built up on the piece over the years) and it could also become rather pricey to start this endeavor. And I suppose most importantly, if you decide that you want to re-sell that antique, some say that it does affect the value (in the sense that after stripping and refinishing it devalues the piece by a large amount. If the appearance is that of peeling paint, or shabby chic, that is what is in style right now and tha'ts what many collectors are looking for, so perhaps instead of refinishing it, you might instead look at just good old plain soap, water and of
course a little elbow grease! That will at the very least allow the original wood to shine through and get rid of any grime that has collected on your piece from years past.

The people that are in favor of refinishing, say that it won't harm the value at all. Are they wrong, or mistaken? Well, if say, you have an antique table and it has already been painted, it's ok to go ahead and refinish. Refinishing a piece takes a lot of time and patience, but can be done. Go to a big box hardware store and ask them for the best materials to take off stain or paint off of the type of wood that your piece is made from and perhaps a few helpful hints would be wise to accept also. After using a chemical stripper, you can sandpaper the piece and then restain or paint, (of course, there are many more steps to it than this, but you get the idea). But better still take it to a professional antique furniture refinisher, one who was done many in his career. Yes, it will cost some money (quite a bit perhaps) but in the end, the final result will be well worth it! For instance, my parents bought a beautiful antique pedestal dining room table at a garage sale for $45. It was painted a wonderful shade of RED (well, so much for the antique!) anyways, they took it to a professional who in turn had the table 'dipped' (dipped by a machine into a vat of stain - so the end result is a overall coat) and then had it appraised by an antique dealer friend of theirs. He estimated that the table would have fetched about $1,000 (this was several years ago), so yes, sometimes it does pay to refinish an antique.

Well, no matter what you decide to do with your antique, it's always best to see a professional first before you do anything. But what ever the end result is, enjoy your antique!

If you have been waiting all winter for the warmth of spring, wait no longer….it's here! Below are a few tips to brighten up your home and invite in spring.

Clean the Windows
If you cannot remember the last time you cleaned your windows, chances are they are covered with a film of dirt and grime. Clean the inside and outside of your windows with a glass cleaner or just plain warm water with a little mild soap added. The clean glass will let in more light to brighten up your home, while also helping to break down barriers between you and the outdoors.

Bring the Outside In
Do not leave all the plants and spring flowers outside. Spring is a great time to add house plants to your living space. When planting annuals, plant a pot to bring inside. Be sure to place it in a bright window so it can soak up the sun. Colorful flowers can quickly change the mood of a dreary room. Cut a few flowers from early blooming bulbs (such as colorful daffodils) or purchase a fresh bouquet for a beautiful spring centerpiece.

Open Windows
When the weather and temperature are pleasant, open a few windows to freshen the air in your house. If your house has been closed up all winter, the smell of fresh spring air can really make a difference.

Pull Back Curtains
Curtains hide your view to the outdoors. This might be appealing during the dreary winter, but when spring comes pull back the curtains and enjoy the view. This will also let in warm sunlight. If you have heavy curtains hanging over your windows, consider hanging new, more lightweight curtains to prevent blocking out nice views. Of course, you may want to keep curtains that block undesirable views, such as your neighbor’s clothesline.

Mimic Scents
If you cannot open windows to invite in fresh spring scents, mimic them with candles. Scented candles can bring pleasing aromas of flowers or even the spring breeze into your home.

Clean, Clean, Clean
Spring brings a feeling of freshness to the outdoors. Freshen your house with a good spring cleaning. Wipe away the dust and clean all those nooks and crannies where dirt has settled over the winter.

For the Birds
Hang a birdfeeder just outside your favorite window. Watching birds and hearing them sing is an excellent way to begin your spring season.

When I was single and on my own for the first time, I was very excited about picking out my first very own living room furniture. My condo had a bright, open feeling and I wanted to get just the right furniture to keep this feeling. I looked for months and collected opinions from many family members and friends. I finally decided on an ivory couch and oversized chair with a subtle wispy pattern. I loved how they looked in my new space, and the room had a clean, open feeling.

My new furniture was perfect until I met the right guy. We got married and bought a small starter house and my perfect furniture was moved. When we set up our new living room, I noticed several dingy dirt spots on my ivory couch. I carefully cleaned it with carpet/upholstery cleaner, but I could not quite get it back to that perfect state. The couch then went through weekends with my six-year-old stepdaughter. I started regular spot cleanings to remove mystery stains of every color of the rainbow. My husband then discovered he was most comfortable when he leaned oddly on the back cushions of the couch, folding over the corner and creating a permanent crease in the cushion stuffing. Then came the dog. My husband insisted that the large dog be able to sit on the couch with us, causing my ivory furniture to gradually turn a darker shade of beige in some areas. I now cover the seat cushions with a quilt that I can periodically wash, and hope for the best. Luckily, the upholstery I choose has been durable enough to withstand the abuse.

I have learned one valuable lesson about choosing furniture: Make sure you think about the purpose of the furniture and the level of durability needed before making such a large purchase. Of course, I did not think too far into the future when I purchased my ivory set. It served its purpose just fine when I was single and living alone. I think my next living room furniture will be a darker neutral to help hide spots and dirt from aggressive wear and tear. When you choose your new furniture, make sure you consider color and the durability of the upholstery. That white couch may look pretty, but it may not be white for long!

I always joked that children were not allowed in my home. This was not because I disliked children, rather because my home was not kid-friendly. The odds of a young toddler touching something that could potentially hurt them are very high in my home. Children are very adventurous and inquisitive. They like to explore and touch things they are not supposed to. Those who do not have children may not appreciate the importance of child proofing a home. Each day numerous children from all over the world are rushed to emergency rooms and doctor offices with injuries that occurred at home. These injuries can range from falling down a staircase to inhaling poisonous chemicals. Many child care specialist will emphasize how important it is for parents to create a safe environment for children. Most parents will comply and do a little rearranging, however other’s feel that children need to be taught boundaries. They reason that once a child is able to understand simple instructions, this is the time to teach them what objects they are allowed to touch. Although I completely agree with setting boundaries for children, I think that it is irresponsible for parents not to take the necessary precautions to ensure that their children are safe.

Homes with small children should be child proofed. Child proofing does not involve a complete renovation of the home. There are certain items that should never be within a child’s reach. Children are great for tugging on, and banging on objects. However there are certain items that are not safe for them to play with. For example, glass chess pieces, knick knacks, trinkets, picture frames, outlets, etc. Child proofing a home only requires keeping these objects out of a child’s reach. Toddlers are only about a foot tall. Therefore many parents opt to move objects of this sort from coffee tables and side tables to shelves. Children are attracted to items that are off limit - its part of their make-up. It does not matter if a room is full of colorful toys, if there is at least one object they should not touch, it is almost a guarantee that the toddler will head directly towards it. Over time children can be taught what items not to touch. It is not always easy to child proof a home. Those who are first time parents may find this task especially challenging. However, there are some practical tips that can help anyone convert their home into a kid-friendly living area.

Although not easy, creating a more kid-friendly home is not impossible. It only involves a little re-shuffling. Those who do not currently have children in the home may want to invest in a few shelves or tables that are at least three feet tall. These tables can be very inexpensive, yet stylish. Any household decoration that is within the reach of toddlers should be placed high. These include small figurines, plants, pictures, and anything else that toddlers should not play with. Household furniture can potentially have sharp edges, and children are notorious for falling. Therefore it may be ideal for parents to purchase edge bumpers. These are made from a soft material and designed to be placed securely around sharp edges. These bumpers are very inexpensive and are great for coffee tables, fireplaces, and furniture. Edge bumpers will lower the risk of severe injury in the event that a toddler falls on a sharp edge. Staircases are a toddler magnet. I understand that some young children are skilled stair climbers however accidents do occur. Parent should place safety gates to prevent toddlers from climbing up and down stairs.

Many parents allow their toddlers to roam freely throughout the home with little supervision. This would be fine if the parent is not distracted by other household tasks. In other words if a parent is busy doing laundry, mopping the floor, or carrying out any task that has their full attention it may not be wise to leave toddlers roaming. This allows too many opportunities for accidents to occur. If feasible, I suggest that parents have a special room that is designed especially for the child. This could be the child’s own play area. A parent could place the child in the room while taking care of other household business. Creating a safe playroom is easy and does not take a lot of time. Parents should first remove all items that can easily break. Items off limit should be placed high. Toys should be easily accessible. They can be place directly in the middle of the floor or in storage bins. Parents should also pay attention to make sure that all electrical outlets are covered. This is important because the child(ren) will be left alone. Safety gates should be placed at the entrance of the room to ensure that the child will stay confined to the play area. Before a parent places a child in the playroom they should quickly look to make sure that small objects are not on the floor. Once the child is safely inside the room, the parent is free to complete other tasks.

Lucky Bamboo
by Kat Yares

I think I must live under a rock or something. We went out shopping for garden seeds the other day and I kept seeing these sticks that appeared to be bamboo being sold for some outrageous prices. They were being marketed as 'Lucky Bamboo'. I'd never seen anything like them before. Bamboo was something down by the river, or used in fences or whistles.

Over the next few days, I noticed they were everywhere. The grocery store, the drug store and even the super center. While at the super center, I became intrigued by the stalks. They had them in all sorts of configurations from single stalks to intricate interweaved patterns.

The single stalks were reasonable, only eighty eight cents, so I bought one. After we came home, I jumped online to see just what it was I purchased. Come to find out, it's not bamboo at all.

Lucky bamboo is really a plant called the ribbon plant. The Latin name for it is Dracaena Sanderana. The plant doesn't need dirt or soil; it will grow in water alone. Pretty cool, I thought, especially for someone like me who forgets to water plants.

I also found that the plant is known as the fortune plant and that it is given to new homeowners and to people on the Chinese new year for good luck. I suppose if I knew anything about Feng Shui, I would have known that already.

I put my Lucky Bamboo in a small fish bowl looking vase with those flattened marbles to hold it upright. I filled the vase with water and placed the vase in the window over my desk. The leaves have already started taking off.

The question of is it really lucky I don't know. I do know that since placing it in my work area, I'm getting much more accomplished. And I'm also getting more work. The good kind. Assignments that I thought were out of my reach at this stage of my career.

Does the mere presence of the plant account for that? I don't know. Nevertheless, I don't think I'll be moving it anytime soon.

by Kat Yares

With my last post, here I was complaining about the price of mattress sets. Finally, I came to the conclusion that I was going to have to just breakdown and pay the big bucks. It turned out-I didn't have to.

Yes, I did get a new bed. Yes, it sleeps like a dream. Yes, my body is loving it. And yes, I got the set in my original price range. In fact, I got it for about half of what I had thought I would have to pay.

As I shopped furniture stores and outlet stores, I had missed the one place that had something I could live with. Our local super center. As my better half and I strolled around the center while new tires were being put on the car, there was my bed. In a box.

What it was, you ask. A memory foam bed set. Adjustable and just the size we needed. Complete with platform. Just assemble pillows and sleep.

And sleep we did. Honestly, it was one of the best night sleeps I can remember in a long, long time. I woke up the next morning, feeling refreshed, and without any kinks. No shoulder pain, no neck pain. Just well rested and perky.

Perky was the good part. Normally in the morning, I would wake and be groggy for the first hour or so. Now, every morning since we got this new bed system, I'm ready to go after one cup of coffee-not ten.

I read somewhere that they NASA invented memory foam for the astronauts on shuttle missions. I, for one and my better half for another, am glad they released this technology to the public. It does go to prove that sometimes my tax dollars go for a good thing, rather than a thousand dollar ash tray or something of that nature.

A few days after we bought it, I looked up memory foam on the net. It blew me away to discover that it is being recommended for those with arthritis and back pain. I suppose that shouldn't have surprised me really, not after the way I'd been sleeping from the first time out.

While my new bed doesn't have a twenty year guarantee, the price is perfect. So perfect we bought not only the bed set, but also an extra mattress for the future as well. I hope that by the time, we wear both out; the price will come down even further. Even if it doesn't, I still feel we've saved ourselves a lot of money.

If we have to go back to a conventional mattress and box springs in the future, so be it. For now, I'm sleeping on a cloud and loving it.

Congratulations, you are having a baby! You have only a few months to get a nursery ready for that precious little life that you are bringing into the world. Decorating a nursery can be a wonderful experience. You are putting together a room with love and anticipation for this new little one. Here are few tips and ideas to pull off the best possible living space for your child.

The first priorities of the nursery space are for the comfort and safety of your baby. But after that, it is really up to the parent in which style the room can be decorated. But remember, they won't be a baby forever, so it's best to design a room that is virtually ageless by using color, texture and design that will grow with your child.

Many parents want the 'perfect' nursery, but forget to take into consideration a few necessary details. For example, lighting - where does natural light fall in the room? (you will want to also have a small light that you can put on in the middle of the night for feeding/changing purposes) and storage can be a big issue also, not only for toys but for clothes, diapers and the like. Wicker baskets are great for this. They can be painted any color and lined with fabric that matches your window treatments and coverlet.

What about using multi use furniture? Make the top of a dresser into a removable change table (by either making, or purchasing a wood frame, complete with padding, or a footstool for mom to rest her feet on when she is nursing baby (why not make the footstool into a storage cube? It can be covered with foam core and material, to make it safe. Don't forget somewhere for mom to sit also!! Also with regards to furniture, make sure the crib is an up to date, safe one. The dresser can stay with the child all through its life. Buy an unfinished one and finish it yourself, or get a sturdy one made out of pine or oak.

Color - what color scheme are you going to use? It doesn't have to be traditional colors anymore. I saw a beautiful room for a baby girl that was in pale blue. What made it feminine were the paintings of fairies and flowers on the wall, using shades of pale green and pale rose with a border of ice blue. The result was an ageless room that could grow with the child.

Flooring - It's best not to go with wall to wall carpet, but a hardwood floor with chenille or other type of soft rug that can be easily washed but is still soft for baby when they start to crawl. Along with a carpet that is easy to wash, so bed linens need to be easy to wash (it's also good if you have a few of them on hand).

Shop! Go to a number of stores or check out a few catalogues and see what furniture they have set up and how it is set up. These will help you with your layout and give you ideas on how you might arrange the furniture in your own house.

What ever you decide to do for your baby's room, you can have a huge amount of fun doing it. Let your personality shine through!

Let’s be honest. Nothing beats the look and feel of genuine wood. Whether it be softwood or hardwood, furniture is always better when it is made from real wood. So, with that said, are you looking to update your bedroom with a new set of drawers and matching sleigh bed, or do you want a higher quality dining room set with a stunning new dinner table. If you are in the market to buy a brand-new piece of furniture for your house or apartment, you should be aware that not all wood is the same. It is a good idea to know something about the wood you would like to purchase before you purchase it. For example, what color is pine? Which woods are low-maintenance? Does the particular wood I am fond of have an odor? Here is a simple cheat sheet divided into the two wood grains: Softwood and Hardwood. I hope this helps you on your journey to find the perfect furniture.
Softwoods:
Yew: This is tough softwood used in furniture. It usually has an orange-red color.
Redwood: Redwood is a wonderful type of light colored wood. It is lightweight and easy to work with. It is extremely hardwearing. That is why it is mostly used in outdoor work, such as fencing and siding.
Hemlock: Similar to Redwood, Hemlock is also light in weight and is impervious to decay. It is used in mainly in construction.
Cedar: Ahhhh, cedar. You have to love the unmistakable sweet smell that lingers from cedar. This wood is usually red in color. It is used in making closet lining and chests, not just because of its pretty appearance, but because it is a natural moth repellant.
Pine: Pine is pliable and resists shrinkage. This pale yellow wood is used in making everything from furniture to simple boxes. Relatively inexpensive, pine is very popular in many homes.
Spruce: Spruce is a very sturdy wood. It is strong against decay and light in weight.
Fir: Fir is very well liked in furniture use. It is easy to work with and attractive.
Hardwoods:
Rosewood: This wood tends to be expensive because it is luxurious and hard to work with. It has a pleasurable smell and is deep, reddish brown in color. It is used to make musical instruments and high-quality furniture. Not for the lazy owner, redwood needs to be polished often to keep its beautiful shine.
Maple: A very hard wood with fine textures. If your furniture is going to get a lot of use and will be around animals and children, this may be a wood to look into.
Cherry: Cherry was used in a lot of antique furniture. It ages very well. This is another gorgeous wood.
Mahogany: This wood is used in high-quality furniture. It is very resilient and will not warp. It is reddish-brown and rather difficult to work with. Beautiful nonetheless.
Oak: Oak is another very popular wood. It is strong and easier to work with than many other hardwoods. Its colors may vary.
Walnut: A durable, attractive wood used in making cabinets and other furniture.
This is just a basic start to the types of woods. Please be aware that some of these woods come in different varieties. And, there are many other types of wood out there that you may want to get to know. Spend some time in the library and do your research before you make an investment in good furniture. You want your furniture to last a long time, and of course be worth the money you spent.
Oh, I would like to give credit where credit is due. Most of this information was found on the Internet. Thanks!

The whole feng shui craze that overtook America a few years ago had many people rearranging their homes in order to stimulate positive energy. There were, and still are many who are skeptical about the feng shui idea. Admittedly when I was first introduced to the concept I thought it was a hoax. Unfamiliar with the power of positive and negative energy, I felt that this concept was simply a passing trend. The theory behind feng shui is very simple. This Chinese philosophy believes that if things in your living space are positioned properly, it will create harmony and balance in your life. Chinese people believe that everything creates energy. The feng shui goal is to try and tap into these energies so they will have a positive effect on our lives. We live in a logic society, thus when an idea or concept cannot be explained logically, many tend to criticize. Despite widespread popularity this Chinese philosophy is still discredited by many. However those who took the feng shui challenge may attest that the basic tips offered will provide a happier environment. It is not difficult to feng shui a living space, nor does it require purchasing new home décor.

Books on feng shui provide very detailed information on how to feng shui an entire house. These books are great for those who take the concept very seriously. However if you simply want to utilize a few basic tips to create harmony, this can be achieved with four fundamental methods. The first step when attempting to feng shui a home is to remove clutter. A clutter home represents stopped energy in our life. Energy must be allowed to flow throughout a home or room. Areas that are clutter will block this energy from flowing freely. When energy does not flow this may result in our physical bodies feeling drained. Stagnate energy can also have a mental effect on our bodies. We are more likely to feel tired, depressed, or sad. To reverse this negative cycle it is important to de-clutter our living space. De-cluttering involves more than moving items around. We need to eliminate the amount of junk in our homes. De-cluttering can bring a wave of happiness and positive energy. A messy home is depressing; however a home that is neat and clean gives us a sense of pride which can boost our mood.

Lighting is also very important when adding a touch of feng shui into your living space. Modern home decorations sometimes call for dim lighting to create an ambiance. Romance and relaxation are also associated with dark lights. Although dim lighting will create a special mood, they do absolutely nothing for promoting harmony. Some also like to decorate their home with dark colors. Brightness is the key to providing energy within a home. The energy created from bright lights increase our productivity and allows opportunities to come our direction. A way to achieve bright lighting in the home is too keep hallways and closets well lit. Painting these areas white will also increase the flow of energy. Bathrooms and kitchens should be well lit, and if possible painted with bright, vibrant colors. Natural lighting should also be in a home. Opening curtains or blinds will allow an abundance of light to flow throughout a home. The sun is a natural energy booster. This energy will have a positive effect on your home, and your mind.

Along with having bright light in the home, colors should also be wisely selected. Modern home decorations incorporate dark tones such as burgundy. These colors are stylish and relaxing, but they should not take over your whole house. Color helps regulate the different types of energy and creates balance. The color green can be used as a calming agent. Therefore this color would be perfect for bedrooms. Those who have difficulty sleeping or resting should incorporate a few green accessories to promote relaxation. Green is also great for calming areas of a home that have high levels of energy – such as a child’s bedroom. Vibrant colors should be used in areas where a lot of people congregate. These colors include reds, oranges, yellows, and white. This will help promote harmony within a social environment. Tip: Avoid using too much of one color.

Another tip for promoting harmony and energy is by adding a touch of life to every room – literally. Chinese people are huge believers in luck. Having living elements in a home will increase the chances of receiving good luck - the more living elements, the better. Feng shui techniques suggest having a couple of fish bowls in different rooms. Small plants or bamboo sticks can be placed in rooms that do not contain a fish. Those who are new to feng shui should not go overboard. It can be tempting to “over feng shui” our homes. However, the key is simplicity and moderation. Incorporating too many feng shui elements can possibly reverse all positive effects, and increase negative energy.

If you want to decorate with real eggs this Easter that will last all season long, you can remove the inside portion of the egg to prevent spoiling. Here is a simple technique to "blow out" your eggs before decorating.

All you should need to empty your egg is a needle. Use the needle to carefully push a small hole at the tip of the small end of the raw egg. Try twisting the needle to prevent cracking the eggshell. Make sure you insert the needle far enough to pierce the egg membrane. Use the same technique to make another hole in the larger end of the egg. This hole should be larger, and is the point where the contents of the egg will be removed. To make the hole larger, push the needle further into the egg and/or twist the needle.

After both holes are made, pierce the yolk with the needle through the larger hole, and carefully move the needle around to ensure that the yolk is sufficiently broken. Begin removing the contents of the egg by gently shaking it over a bowl, large end down. You may need to insert the needle and wiggle it around to help the contents evacuate the shell. You can also use an instrument with suction, such as an eye dropper or syringe. Another good method is to gently blow through the small hole (thus the name of the technique - "blow out").

Carefully rinse the shell and allow it to completely dry before decorating. If you would like to cover the needle holes, try laying a small piece of wet tissue paper over each hole after you rinse the eggshell. Be careful not to pierce the tissue paper or scrape it off the shell when decorating the egg.

Your decorated eggshells can be kept indefinitely, but may be difficult to store due to their delicate nature.

Nearly all new parents know they will need to babyproof certain areas of their home. The electrical outlets, the stairways and the cupboards with dangerous and breakable items are all obvious dangers to new crawlers and toddlers. However, many people do not consider that some of their furniture may also be dangerous to young children.

Attach heavy items to the studs
Tall chests of drawers, bookshelves, and armoires all pose potential dangers to children in a household. These heavy furniture items pose risks to babies and toddlers if they topple and fall. While they may seem sturdy under normal circumstances, consider what would happen if an active toddler climbed one of them? Toddlers have been known to quickly turn sets of drawers into stairs to scale even the tallest items. And, even if your child is not a climber, heavy furniture may fall during an earthquake. To be safe, purchase kits for mounting furniture to the studs in the walls to prevent items from falling.

Cushion sharp edges and corners
Most people have furniture items that have sharp edges and corners. These can pose risks to babies who may fall into them and bang themselves on these sharp parts. Look at coffee tables, trunks, small dressers and chair arms for corners that should be cushioned. It may be important to put some items, such as stone or glass top coffee tables away for a while. For other things, purchase padded corner pieces or cushioned wraps to place on any potentially dangerous area; these are all available in a variety of sizes and shapes. Or, go the less expensive route and make your own padding with some toweling and duct tape. While it is not beautiful, it will protect your baby and that is the most important thing at the end of the day.

Keep dangerous decorative objects out of reach
Most homes have a few decorative objects scattered around. Often, at least some of these can present hazards to babies and toddlers. Check all of the objects that are within reach – remember babies can climb – and put away anything breakable, sharp or with small parts that might present choking hazards. Things like vases, candleholders and sculptures should all be checked for potential danger and put away if they do not pass muster. Check less obvious items like decorative pillows with sequins or tassels. Look for things with hanging cloth, strings or cords that could be pulled down onto a baby, too. While it is tempting to keep the house the same while baby is growing up, it is more important to keep baby safe than to have a home at the height of fashion.

You love your furniture. You love your cats. Your cats love your furniture, too. So much, in fact, that they can't keep their little paws off of your new sofa. Well, to be exact, they can't keep their claws off of your new sofa. What do you do?
Here are some suggestions that may help your cats live harmoniously with your favorite pieces of furniture.
1. Declaw the little bugger. No! No! No! This is the first prevention method that many people think of when they realize their cats are destroying their furniture. It seems simple enough. Just take the cat’s front claws out. No claws, no problem. But here is the misconception: it's not a painful procedure. Newsflash: declawing is a very painful procedure for cats. The fact of the matter is that declawing is a major operation. Declawing is actually comparable to the removal of human fingertips at the first knuckle. Recovery is slow and painful. It is an amputation and I believe it to be inhumane. So with that said out of the way, let's discuss some humane suggestions to hamper your cat's scratching issues.
2. Use a water-spray bottle. When your cat gets too close to your favorite piece of furniture, simply spray her with a water bottle. This preventative measure tells the cat that every time she gets close to the sofa, something negative will happen. (Something negative, not painful.) No cat likes to be sprayed in the face with water. No human for that matter. It's annoying. Simple as that.
3. Fill your house with scratching posts. Get your cat to notice scratch-friendly items, other than your armchair. Using a scratching post is a wonderful way for cats to quench their thirst for scratching. They enjoy scratching on the carpet these posts are made from. Place them near your furniture and in the corners of your house. Now, some cats may not go to the scratching posts, right away. If that's the case, rub some organic catnip on the posts. No cat is impervious to the magic of catnip. If your cat still refuses to use the scratching post, give her time. Eventually, she will. In the meantime, use the water-bottle method to deter the cat from the furniture.
4. Buy the SuperScratcher: If scratching posts do not work, try the SuperScratcher by SmartyKat. Or, try this first. My cats love this thing. The SuperScratcher is a long cardboard box filled with a cardboard filling that cats' claws cannot resist. I highly recommend this product. I have yet to see a cat not drawn to it. Plus, it is relatively inexpensive.
5. Use Soft Paws for the nails. This is another helpful product. You simply apply the vinyl nail caps with glue (included) on to your cat's existing nails. It sounds strange, but this product is very effective. As the cat's nails grow, the nail caps eventually fall off. In a short amount of time, most cats tolerate the caps and don't even know they are there. The caps even come in different colors--blue, purple, red and pink--for the most discerning of cats. It may take some time and effort to apply the nails, but trust me the outcome is worth it. You can purchase this product at any quality pet store, such as Petco or PetSmart.
These are just some suggestions to get you started. Just remember, your cat needs to scratch, pure and simple. It is in the cat’s nature. But if you keep your cat's nails trimmed and have items for her to scratch, your furniture should remain safe and sound, and you and your cat can enjoy each other’s company more than ever.

Getting rid of our belonging is probably one of the hardest things to do. Some people are great with discarding items they no longer use – for others it is more difficult. Not wanting to part with our treasures is understandable. Many items have a story behind them which stays glued in our memories. There is nothing wrong with having sentimental attachments to our items. However it can be a problem when we become obsessed and refuse to part with every piece of item owned. Clutter is one of the reasons why many homes are unorganized. Clutter is more than having belongings out of place. A home that is clutter usually has too much stuff inside of it. Clutter can overtake a whole house or just an area of the house. Regardless of what area is affected, the problem can generally be resolved by sorting and discarding old belonging. Many people are great for sorting items while cleaning. However, simply moving items around will not eliminate the problem. In order to de-junk a house and keep it organized, some items must occasionally be tossed.

Some individuals love to hoard. Hoarding refers to saving, storing, or collecting items. Although I am using this term loosely, hoarding is a very serious condition in which people never throw away household items, including old milk cartons. Items are usually stored over several years which results in a home being deemed uninhabitable. Few homes are this bad – but many are close. People find reasons to save everything. Items saved include clothing, shoes, paper documents, greeting cards, invitations, books, cosmetics, etc. When done in moderation, hoarding may not be a serious problem. However, when you have years of saved personal items and momentums, they tend to occupy too much space. De-junking a house involves removing items no longer necessary. I once knew a guy who collected the weirdest things. His many collections took up several drawers and shoe boxes. Collecting is a satisfying hobby, but some items such as ticket stubs, nail clippings, baby teeth, and any other strange obsession should never be allowed to be collected.

Once a year everyone should thoroughly de-junk their homes. This process involves going room by room and determining what items have not been used in months or years. Items not used should be tossed. Some items are more difficult to part with like clothes and shoes. In the back of our minds there is always this little voice convincing us that someday we will need that red shirt. However if the article of clothing hasn’t got any “wear time” in over a year, more than likely it will never be worn again. Styles are constantly changing and we are constantly adding to our wardrobes. Some like to keep articles of clothing for years. This may result in every closet, drawer, and shelf in their homes being jammed pack with clothes. Having a wide selection of outfits is great – if you regularly wear them. If the clothes get more shelf time then outside time, it may be ideal to donate or throw away a few pieces. The amount of closet space available once clothes are removed will leave you amazed.

Too much paper is another reason why some homes stay clutter. Some people do not like to discard paper documents. These documents include credit card statements, utility bills, newspapers, etc. Some documents that contain important information such as contracts should be kept and filed away. Once a week, or month, each member of a house should sort through their personal paper documents and determine what is important, and what is not important. It is not necessary to keep all credit card statements. When a new statement arrives in the mail, check it thoroughly for inaccuracies. If all the charges are valid file the bill until you receive the next month’s statement. As new statements arrive, old ones should be shred. Junk mail and old magazines should also be discarded on a regular basis. Some people have a fascination with collecting greeting cards given to them or wedding invitations. The thought behind holding onto these items is very endearing, however over years the collection can accumulate into a pile of junk. Those who enjoy keeping these types of momentums should consider putting them in a scrapbook, and only keeping them for a few years.

Many do not realize the amount of junk and clutter they have in their homes until they decide to get organized. I only discussed a few popular possessions that people like to keep – however the list can go on forever. Those hoping to eliminate unnecessary items in their home should seriously sort through every room, drawer, box, closet, and cabinet. They should then remove any item that is collecting dust, they forgot they had, or older than two years.

Designing your house is an important process and people generally end up making a bad design, and keep ruing afterwards, as they soon realize that their money has not given them the value that they sought!

The direction of your house, according to the movement of the sun, is an important consideration for your home design. The direction of windows and doors becomes extremely important if you are living in some colder regions. Make it sure that you are having proper size of windows and doors for optimal ventilation of air from your rooms. And if you love sunlight and heat to penetrate your rooms, you should make it very clear that the direction of windows and doors is in front of the sun movement. However, you can avoid this sunlight and heat with the help of curtains and black mirrors afterwards; but once you make a wrong design, you will not be able to mold it in any way other than rebuilding it!

Energy efficient windows are a good option for you, and you search for someone in your town, which provides the service of energy efficient windows. These energy efficient windows will help you to minimize your cost of heaters and other power-operated sources to keep your home interior warm. So spending a little more on the windows and door itself is not an altogether bad idea!

There are also options for double mirror window panes, as according to the laws of hear transfer, these window panes help in minimizing the heat loss from your room and keep it warm in winters. Mind you, this techniques is also used in factories where refrigeration and air-condition is required, and therefore, this technique can be useful for your home also. Some provide black window panes, as they absorb the higher wavelength light from the sun, but does not allow to leave the shorter wavelength heat to escape from your room, and thus, keeping them warm! --Just like the green house effect!

These all are little consideration but they certainly make much when are employed in good measure and with proper care.

Color wash/stencil
Blackboard paint splotches
Splash painting
Handprints
Imagination

Decorating a child’s room can be both hard work, and fun. With a little imagination and the input of your children (if they are old enough) you can create a virtual haven, functional and fun for them.

One of the messiest and probably THE most fun ways to paint a room is splash painting. If you’ve ever painted a picture with splatters of paint, ‘throwing the paint’ off a brush, you’ll probably know just HOW messy. Combined with other techniques it’s also the most unique. But with plenty of newspaper, lots of masking tape and a little bit of a devil may care attitude it looks stunning. Even with just splashes of primary colors and a simple border, it can take a dull room and change it into a myriad of color and texture – which toddlers love.

It’s the same with blackboard paint splotches and handprints – the children get an individualized (and MESSY) room, and the blackboard paint has the additional bonus of being a doodling ‘pad’ on the wall. Take one child, paint some blackboard paint in some different places, and if they like, let them make handprints on the wall….and et viola, a perfect room for a unique child.

Color washing (the art of painting one color over the other in a pale and uneven wash) and stenciling is more suitable for babies and older, between teen and toddler kids – they get their favorite characters and you get an easy job, if a little monotonous. Stencils are a great tool, but do take a lot of getting the hang of. A good tip is to experiment on a bit of paper and make sure the texture and feel of doing it is right.

Finally, use your imagination. Take elements and things you have, and find uses for them. You never know what you’ll come up with. Ask the kids too – sometimes they can think of things you can’t see.
Try it – your creativity is your only limit.

Candles are lovely and add a beautiful ambience to any space. Scented candles can fill a room with a pleasant fragrance; for a subtle scent leave them unlit. If you are tired of the same old candles in candleholders, try some of these ideas for home décor with candles.

- Use a long, thin tray to place a row of pillar candles, all of the same size and color or alternating heights. Use this for a mantle, a table centerpiece or a buffet. For extra visual interest scatter pebbles, beads, crystals, candies or other small attractive objects along the tray.

- Fill a round bowl or plate with fine sand. Place tea lights on the sand, embedding them slightly in the sand.

- Make a grouping of candles of different sizes and shapes on a buffet or table as a centerpiece. Try putting a tall pillar candle in the center and spiral outward with the candles growing gradually shorter. Place leaves, flower petals or curls of ribbon around the base.

- Purchase floating candles and place them in an elegant crystal bowl filled with water. The candlelight reflecting on the water and shining through the crystal makes this extra special.

- Try new things for candle coasters. The home improvement store is filled with inexpensive objects that make great coasters for chunky pillars. Buy attractive ceramic or terra cotta tiles (discontinued patterns are an extra-great deal!) to place candles on around the edge of the tub or on the patio table. Set pillars on glass bricks of varying heights for an innovative dinner table display.

- Use terra cotta plant pots filled with sand or pebbles to hold tea lights. These are perfect for decorating the patio for summertime barbecues. Or, bring them inside for your beach-themed party.

Tips:
It is best to use unscented candles for the dining room or other areas where people are eating. Also, use unscented candles for large gatherings since some guests may have allergies.

Make sure that anything holding candles is properly heat resistant and that decorative objects used in displays are fire resistant.

When cleaning the house it is easy to hide junk instead of sorting through it. A perfect hiding place for belongings is inside closets, inside junk drawers, and under the bed. During the months of April and May many choose to complete a spring cleaning of their homes. Removing old items and dusting in corners is a great way to ring in spring. No doubt we clean our houses throughout the year. We may even do a thorough cleaning every few months. However, when we lead extremely busy lives it becomes difficult to find the free time to conduct a "serious" home cleaning.

"Serious" home cleaning involves more than the obvious everyday chores. Chores we do frequently include washing the dishes, vacuuming, disinfecting countertops, etc. Dirt and dust in these areas are easy to spot. There are some who enjoy cleaning; however the majority of people will agree that it is not very fun. This lack of excitement results in many cleaning only dirt they can see. Dust accumulation on televisions and coffee tables are easily noticed. Therefore these household items are likely to get dusted regularly. However, dust that accumulates in closets, under appliances, and under furniture is less likely to be seen. Thus the "out-of-sight, out-of-mind" concept comes into play.

Although we may hate conducting a detailed cleaning, it still needs to be done. One area of the home that many ignore is cleaning under the bed. Under the bed can be home to several pairs of old shoes, clothes, toys, boxes, etc. Dust can also live and accumulate under the bed. Those who suffer from allergies should make a routine of cleaning this area to avoid flare-ups.

It does not take long to clean under the bed. The hard part is actually removing items and sorting through them. As you remove the items from under the bed, immediately throw away any belonging that is old, in bad condition, or no longer used. It may be ideal to have a large garbage bag nearby. Belongings that will be kept should be grouped together with like items. Put these items off to the side. De-cluttering junk is only the start. In order to remove dirt and dust the area must be cleaned. It would also be a good idea to clean dust that has accumulated on belongings. Move the bed from the place where it is situated. For larger beds it would be good to illicit assistance to avoid back strain. Once the bed is moved vacuum the area thoroughly. Sweep and mop if you have wood or tile flooring. Added freshness can be achieved by sprinkling a little carpet freshener. After the area is cleaned the bed can be returned to its place. Items that were initially removed can be placed back under the bed. Arrange items neatly and in a matter that will offer you quick access. Plastic containers are great for storing clothes, toys, and jewelry. Conducting a thorough cleaning under the bed should be repeated every month.

There are people who sleep on the floor itself and don't use any bedding or any sort of bed etc. But this thing depends mainly on the economic background or financial status of the person. However, the style of beds and other materials that are used for sleeping depends upon traditions, choice and area available in the room!

In the villages in India, and previously perhaps in every household in India, they used to lie on the beds that were woven by jute strings and ropes. If you come to see any of these beds, you perhaps will find them awkward and unhealthy, but they were not so. It is found that by using the plywood beds, people suffer from backache more than they did through these woven beds. Again the unnoticed science of Ergonomics plays its part, and sometimes doctors in India recommend sleeping on these woven beds.

If you visit India and halt at some small hotel for meals and similar sort of things, you will still find these furniture items be placed there for taking meals also! This is a true picture of villages in India, and the people here know how enjoyable that is! But the interest of these woven beds decreased and the people involved in this handicraft suffered a lot of rejection, as the city-life style changed much in India, and the people turned more about decorative features of furniture items. Plywood beds became the demand of the time, and they almost replaced these woven beds completely. And even the villages also got into that flare for plywood beds and the carpenters started preparing those furniture items using new wood system, and with new tools and machines.

The bedding system also changed and there came the bedding with coir and other materials filled in it. The whole scenario of sleeping is changed and also the materials involved in it. But all this has helped the industry of carpentry to rise and grow, for, there is new furniture item almost every day!

No matter how much you train and discipline your puppy, it is destined to ruin at least one piece of your favorite furniture. Puppies love to chew. It is important to teach them what they can and cannot chew, starting the first day you bring them home.

It is important that you provide your puppy with both hard and soft chew toys. Your puppy may love to chew on his hard rawhide bone, but also love to sink his teeth into softer textures. If a soft toy is not available, he may choose to chew on your favorite chair. On the other hand, if a hard toy is not available, he may go for a table leg. Make sure you have a variety of chew textures available for your puppy.

When you first introduce your puppy to your home, keep an eye on him. When he starts to become too interested in a piece of furniture or actually starts chewing your furniture, tell him "no" and then provide him with an acceptable chew toy. After enough repetitions, he should begin to understand what he can and cannot chew.

If your puppy tends to repeatedly chew the same area or item, you may want to try sprays available at your local pet store. These sprays are odorless, colorless, and will not ruin your furniture. It does, however, taste horrible to must puppies when they lick it or chew on something coated with it. Unfortunately, not all puppies hate the taste. Some will put up with the taste to get a nibble of your coffee table. If that is the case, try dabbing a few drips of hot sauce where the spray failed. Your house may have a brief spicy odor, but most puppies will avoid putting their mouth on any area that smells like hot sauce after they get just one taste.

We had the carpentry workshop when we passed our first year in Mechanical engineering graduation, and was asked to make a little stool sort of thing in around 3 hours. We were very much confused and still there was a thrill that we would be holding the tools and doing all those operations to make a little item of furniture.

After a short description by the supervisor about what sort of precautions was necessary for carpentry shop, we were told to start the work. The first work was to mark the material with pencils and then do the cutting operation. It was a long board of plywood that we had to cut and we were given the hacksaws for that operation. The board was around 7 feet in length and was lengthy than me, so it was a little difficult for us to hold it. However, we started cutting it and after a much to-and-fro motion of our arms, we managed to cut it in two pieces.

Then followed another process of marking smaller lines and to cut smaller pieces from that long piece of board. After it was done, we were handed a new tool called planer. We had to plane the edges and to prepare them for joints. It was a similar motion for the arms and we were almost feeling that we should never have these arms, as these were feeling the pain bitterly. It is always the same when you do so much of work for the first time! However, we managed to do that even.

Then perhaps the science of carpentry took some pity on us and the next operation was less physical but involved more care and precision, as the inserting of nails should be accurate. There was almost nothing that we did not felt that day in terms of fatigue, cell deformation and tiredness, nothing! But surely the first experience to make that little furniture was really an eye-opener, as the art of carpentry involves more things than we ever expected, or knew!

Have you ever been in a situation where you just seem to spend the whole day arranging and re-arranging the furniture in a certain room in your home? Trying
desperately in vain to get it just right?

If somebody is carefully observing you, they will often find that you seem to create something only to abandon that idea for a number of other different options. And then after a while you, you end up going back to exactly the same idea you started off with,
but maybe with a small tiny detail of variation. And round and round you go in circles.

Let us not even talk about the poor people doing the carrying around and moving of the furniture in the room back and forth and then back to exactly the initial position. They will be the most exhausted at the end of it all and probably an excellent subject
for a rather funny article or comedy script of sorts.

Maybe to make matters worse, the whole day ends in frustration and you are forced to make do with a "temporary compromise".

If this sounds familiar, you should know better. Decorating is like a painter's still life where there must be a "composition" and not just different objects thrown in in an up hazard way without a central, strong idea or theme.

Before you arrange anything in the room, try and imagine what you want the completed room to look like. Get the picture clearly in your mind, think of the
main features and the small details will quickly work themselves out.

Some people say that a room cannot be created all at once and that it must “grow” gradually. In a sense this is true for the unsure and hesitant. If the professional can quickly summon to mind a complete room then we amateurs can at least do a complete job of the main features or "composition of our still life." Individuality and personal taste will follow in the details later.

Random Tips for Home and Décor:

Here are some great tips on how to re-invent your home to look top notch! These are just random tips that will hopefully help you out, whether your house is too full of things, or quite bare. These tips will help illuminate the rooms in your house to the best and most beneficial standards.

If your house is bare, try adding some of these elements.

Plants – go to your local greenhouse and pick out some flowers or plants that catch your eye, not only are they great eye pieces, but they help bring more flow of oxygen into your home! Not only are plants wonderfully great eye catchers, if not beautiful, but they’re quite beneficial as well. Maybe get a tree plant, or a plant with large leaves, this usually looks great, especially if your house is bare! Climbing vines are also very beautiful, but before purchasing a vine make sure that you will have enough dedication to take care of it, and be prepared for some messes! If you don’t want them inside, but still want one, not all hope is lost! It is always possible to grow one outside too!

Pictures – A lot of people are probably raising their eyebrows at this one… but yes, I have walked into homes with very minimal pictures and some with even NO pictures at all. Whether you want paintings or family portraits, this is a great way to make a house feel like a home. It also draws great attention and fills in the bare spots quite nicely. There is a very broad range of art out there, whether it is at Wal-Mart, online, your favourite home décor store, or anywhere else… pictures are an extremely wonderful alternative. It also is a great way to show off your personality and interests because it reflects the kind of mood that you want set in your atmosphere.

Curtains – You are probably thinking “um, who doesn’t have curtains?” well just because you have curtains, doesn’t mean that they provide the right kind of feel to your bare home! Go curtain shopping and find curtains that will really accent the room and bring life to it. Maybe get long flowing velvet curtains that scream Victorian! Or even just nice flowing drapes that really bring the outdoors in. Anything that tickles your fancy, curtains can play a large role in a home!

Lamps – Now there’s a bright idea for you! Lamps are absolutely splendid for decoration and serve a wonderful purpose as well! Victorian lamps, modern lamps, small lamps, large lamps, funky lamps, disco lamps, futuristic lamps, sophisticated lamps, simple lamps, sensual lamps, luxurious lamps, cute lamps and so much more! Lamps have quite the personality, and can help add to the mood that you’re looking for. You can add different colored light bulbs to help add to the feel as well. They have millions of different designs and offer just the right touch!

Fountains – Ah yes… these scream serenity and offer a world full of detail! Water fountains in the home and bring you calm surrender after a hard day of work, or just when you want to relax. There are so many intricate and wonderful water fountains out there that can simply leave you awe-struck. There are angels, frogs, stones, wizards, dragons, castles, flowers, gothic architecture, fantasy and many other water fountains. They add so much to your space, more than you could possibly imagine, and they serve as perfect eye candy if you want to get anyone’s attention. They can be sophisticated, luxurious, and serene or carry any other kind of trait that you care for them to have depending on which kind you get. This is highly recommended for ANY house, they are such a wonderful thing to have.

Collections – Maybe you are a collector, or maybe you aren’t, either way there are some nifty ideas for what I am about to offer. Get a unique looking wine rack and set wine bottles in them, even if you do not drink alcohol, they make wonderful displays and really put an emphasis on that European feel. Collect stones, or anything that you can think of that you know would appeal to you and represent your interests uniquely and display them in your house. Not only would it look quite nice/interesting, but collecting things can be quite fun if you allow it to be!

Small Accessories – Now for the small, but none the less extremely important part! Small accessories really bring life to a bland room. There are little knick-knacks that you can set around your house that appeal to you. Candles, vases with fake or real flowers in them, potpourri glass holders, little clocks, antiques, and little store bought items that you feel would go great with what you want your room to look like. Even though they are small items, they can add a large sense of feel to the room, so please don’t skip out on this one, you may regret it!

You are probably wondering what ever happened to the part where I also gave advice on houses that are too full of items? Well… don’t worry, because now it’s your turn! So your house is cluttered… you want to pull your hair out… even your spouse is ready to explode! So what’s the next step? Well here are some tips on how to reorganize, and make your room fantastic… not a flop!


Storage – this may be unfortunate for you if you do not have a shed, or some other room that you can use for storage to set all of the unwanted items in your house. Not too unfortunate though! Don’t worry. At Wal-Mart or many other home improvement stores that offer cheap deals, you can get storage bins to put all of your un-needed things. The second unfortunate thing is that you have to be willing to spend some money on getting the clutter organized (or maybe not if you already have storage bins, or a place to set your stuff!) but it is most definitely well worth it if you really want your space cleared up.

Organizing – after you’ve worked off a sweat getting all of your unwanted/needed things out of the way, its time to re-organize! Oh don’t groan about it… this can be a fun process if you allow it to be. Maybe when you were cleaning things up you found things you never knew you had and came up with ideas on how to set everything up! Set out all of the things you have in an unorganized matter, and think of ideas and ways that you would like to reset everything up!

Purchasing – If you have enough money, and when you unorganized and the room became TOO bare, don’t fret! Go to a dollar store, or any store for that matter and go find some unique things that will tie in with the look that you are going for. This is not a necessary process, but it may help bring out the organized look that you’re going for, or help accentuate the feel that you want!

I hope that this article has helped you in some way with your home and décor ideas. You can use these ideas to give to a friend in need, or even if you weren’t thinking of redecorating. Maybe it will encourage you to try something new! You never know until you try! Remember that there are many resources out there that you can use for completing the desired look that you are going for, so don’t feel too hopeless! Remember that it might help if you have a theme or certain look that you are going for before purchasing or reinventing anything. Good luck with everything!

Home decorating projects do not have to be time-consuming or expensive. There are many things you can quickly and easily do to give a room a new look. So, if time and money are tight, but you want to spend a little time on your environment, try some of these great projects:

Add some fabric pizzazz
Changing even a few of the fabric elements in a room can give it a whole new feel in virtually no time. In the family room, put away the boring toss pillows from your sofa and chairs and replace them with vibrantly colored ones of sumptuous fabrics. Place silk placemats on coffee and end tables; they add color and can be used to replace run-of-the-mill coasters. Need to soften the room even more? Drape a soft throw over the back of the sofa.

Make art out of the ordinary
Beautiful things are all around us; simply put some of them in frames to create one of a kind artwork to hang on the walls. Scour stationery stores for handmade wrapping papers or cards that can be used to create wall hangings. Pick up antique photos or postcards at flea markets to frame along or in collages. Beautiful textiles stand on their own stretched over canvas and hung on the wall. Have a beautiful picture frame, but nothing to put in it? Use it to frame a mirror. Place collections of simple, but beautiful objects like seashells or buttons into shadowboxes and display them.

Cover it with ribbon
Use a glue gun and some beautiful ribbon to zip up nearly anything. Wrap a swath of ribbon around a plain vase, cover a plain picture frame or add an edge of ribbon to a dull lamp shade. Ribbon can be sewn onto the edges of pillows, draperies and tablecloths to add color and visual interest. Curl bits of ribbon into a floral or greenery centerpiece to make it extraordinary. Have a doorway with no door? Hang long strips of ribbon from a tension bar to create an impromptu privacy screen.

Comfort Zones
by Kat Yares


You know that feeling of a an old comfortable pair of shoes? That's how I feel about my bed. For fourteen years my old mattress and box springs has served me well. But lately, even though the bed feels good when I climb into it at night, I wake up the next morning sore and stiff.

It's time for a new bed, I have decided. The first thing to do is look online and see what's out there in queen size bedding. Already, I am overwhelmed. So many brands, so many choices, pillow tops, adjustables, memory foam, I don't know where to start.

The prices throw me as well. Fourteen years ago, I thought it was outrageous to pay four hundred dollars for a mattress and box springs set. Today, for the same name brand, the price pushes fifteen hundred. I don't think so. Time to go learn of the no-name brands. Unfortunately, not many of those online, so it's off to the stores.

Again, the prices scare me. Surely, for five hundred dollars, I should be able to find something that feels good beneath my body. But no, most of the prices are well above that. My mind turns to factory outlet stores. I drive ninety miles. The price is getting closer, but still seven hundred is more than I can justify.

I'm tired, time to go home for the day. Cook a meal and settled back and try to talk myself into spending that much money. It doesn't work, so I tell myself I'll watch the ads, both on TV and in the papers. Surely, someone will have a sale soon.

The week's pass, I'm still sleeping in the old bed. My better half is beginning to complain now also. At least until I tell him the price of a new set. His response, keep looking.

And so I do. Deep down I know we'll have to spend the money soon. We are both creaking and cracking when we get up in the mornings. Bite the bullet, I saw to myself. The money you spend will save you the misery of a sore back and shoulders.

Tomorrow is the day. I'll make that ninety mile drive once more. I'll buy a new mattress set. I know it will take a few days to deliver, but until then, I'll sleep knowing that soon my dreams and my sleep with be peaceful.

Everyone will agree that children and adults have different taste. Adults like home decoration that is classy and elegant. Many rooms in a house reflect a grown-ups style. This is mainly because adults pay for the house therefore they can decorate the interior how they see fit. Few houses include an area, other than the bedroom, designed exclusively for children. Therefore when the kids roam the house they are subjected to decorum that is not too kid-friendly.

Children enjoy a lot of vibrant colors. Many parents do a great job decorating their children’s room. They allow the child to pick out colors and favorite characters. In the bedroom children have free reign. This is one room where adult decorum is not allowed.
However, there is also another room in the home that can be designed to reflect a child’s style. The majority of homes contain at least three bathrooms. There is usually a half bath for guests and two other full baths for parents and the children. Since children have their own bathroom, it may be a good idea for parents to decorate this room with colors and designs that children will love.

Decorating the bathroom with cartoon character wall-paper or boarders is cute. However, this may require you to re-model the bathroom again in a few years. Favorite characters can quickly change or go out of style. For example just a few years ago Teletubbies and Elmo were popular. These characters have now been replaced with The Wiggles and Dora the Explorer. Those who choose to decorate with cartoon character wall-paper or boarders may consider using characters that have been popular for years. Long time favorites include Disney characters such as Mickey Mouse, Sesame Street characters, Peanuts, etc.

Parents who want to create a bathroom that can reflect their child’s changing likes and dislikes may want to decorate using neutral colors. The walls could be painted with a color that can grow with your child. Children like vibrant colors and designs, and may want rainbows, birds, and clouds hand painted on the wall. These are nice ideas, but again, as your child becomes older they will become bored or feel that the designs are childish. Parents who do not want the task of re-modeling every two years should consider painting walls with a single color and purchasing bathroom accessories that can be easily changed. For example if the child likes rainbows, replace bland colored light switches and outlets with vibrant colors. Different color towels can be hung on displayed. Countertop accessories such as soap dishes and lotion dispensers can reflect a variety of colors. Shower curtains, bath mats, and trash bins should also reflect bright colors. Accessories are not expensive and will create a bathroom that children will love. If the child’s style changes in a couple of years it will not be difficult to modify the bathroom. The only thing required is discarding old accessories and purchasing new ones that will harmonize more with the child’s growing style.

If your closet looks anything like mines, it’s probably in need of some TLC. Closets in my opinion are the most difficult area in a house to keep organized. These small compact spaces do not allow much room to place your items. If you live in a home which offers huge walk-in closets that include shelves and shoe racks, consider yourself fortunate. Those of us who have average size homes may find that keeping our closets presentable is a challenge. We constantly purchase new clothes and shoes only to discover we have no place to put them. Any who share a closet with a spouse or sibling may have an even tougher time keeping things sorted. There is always that one person who thinks they deserve more space than the other. I will admit that I am this person in my house. In my own defense I feel this way because I have more clothes than my husband. However we have a spare bedroom with a decent size closet that allows me to hang my extra clothes.

Regardless of how many closets you have in your house or the purpose they serve, it is hard to maintain them. Because closets are not seen my guests it is easy to shove belonging in them when you have an unannounced visitor to your home. Closets are also the perfect solution to storing items you no longer use - but are not ready to throw away. There are people who never clean out their closets. Therefore they have years of out-of-date clothes and shoes taking up needed space. There are some easy and quick tips to help you organize your closet.

Depending on the size of your closet and the amount of clothing inside, you can typically organize your closet in 24 hours. Organizing may take less time if you have a smaller closet. Begin by removing everything from the closet. This part is time consuming and may require help from someone else. Items that are alike should be grouped together in a pile. In other words place all jeans together, shirts together, etc. Try and make the piles as neat as possible. Throwing things all over the room only creates a bigger mess and may leave you frustrated. Once everything has been removed from the closet you may be surprised with the amount of space you have. It would be ideal to give your closet a quick clean. This includes dusting the shelves and vacuuming or sweeping floors.

The next step is sorting through the piles of clothes. Before sorting I suggest you have a storage bin nearby along with two large garbage bags. Go through each pile and separate the clothes you are keeping, storing, donating, and throwing away. Clothes that you currently wear should be placed in another pile to be folded and returned to the closet. Clothes that you still wear but are for a different season should be placed in a pile to be folded and stored in a storage bin. The two garbage bags are for clothes that are no longer worn and outfits that you forgot you had. Clothes that are no longer worn but are still in good condition should be placed in a bag for donating. Clothing that is very old, torn, or in bad condition should be placed in a garbage bag to be discarded.

Once you have successfully sorted through the clothes, removed the two garbage bags from the room, or place them in a corner. If the clothes to be stored have not been folded and placed in the storage bin, now is a good time to do this. Before returning clothes back into the closet I suggest purchasing some inexpensive closet shelving and shoe racks. These accessories will help your closet stay organized. The final step to organizing the closet is returning the clothes you are keeping back into the closet. This part is easy. Fold shirts and sweaters and place them on the shelves. Hang-up jackets, dresses, pants, etc. Neatly line up your shoes or place them on a shoe rack. Any miscellaneous items should be stacked neatly on the shelf. These include purses, hats, wigs, etc. Now that the closet is organized the hard part will be keeping it organized. Putting belongings in their proper place and routine tidying will help ensure that your closet stays neat and orderly.

Have you ever been in a situation where you just seem to spend the whole day arranging and re-arranging the furniture in a certain room in your home? Trying desperately in vain to get it just right?

If somebody is carefully observing you, they will often find that you seem to create something only to abandon that idea for a number of other different options. And then after a while you, you end up going back to exactly the same idea you started off with, but maybe with a small tiny detail of variation. And round and round you go in circles.

Let us not even talk about the poor people doing the carrying around and moving of the furniture in the room back and forth and then back to exactly the initial position. They will be the most exhausted at the end of it all and probably an excellent subject for a rather funny article or comedy script of sorts.

Maybe to make matters worse, the whole day ends in frustration and you are forced to make do with a "temporary compromise".

If this sounds familiar, you should know better.

Decorating is like a painter's still life where there must be a "composition" and not just different objects thrown in in an up hazard way without a central, strong idea or theme.

Before you arrange anything in the room, try and imagine what you want the completed room to look like. Get the picture clearly in your mind, think of the main features and the small details will quickly work themselves out.

Some people say that a room cannot be created all at once and that it must “grow” gradually. In a sense this is true for the unsure and hesitant. If the professional can quickly summon to mind a complete room then we amateurs can at least do a complete job of the main features or "composition of our still life." Individuality and personal taste will follow in the details later.

Feng Shui - It's everywhere! Books on Feng Sui for your life, you home, well just about everything!
So what the heck does it mean? Feng Sui (pronounced fung shwey literally means wind and water and is the ancient Chinese art of placement and design that guides humans in living harmoniously with their environment in order to find that balance between man and nature and to enhance the flow of energy in living environments. Feng Shui experts believe that by creating balance and harmony, it will lead you to happiness, success and health.

Feng Shui was begun by Chinese farmer over 4,000 years ago as they planned out their home placement to maximize their receiving sun rays during a winter solstice and would bring them the greatest opportunity for health and prosperity. It sees the world as having its own personality or Chi which is directly affected by placement of such things as furniture, location of windows and doors in a home as well as color choice. It is about proper movement and the circulation of positive forces.

So what should I do and how can I decorate my house in the manner of Feng Shui? Start with the entrance to your house. Have a light in your hallway, the brighter the better, as this light represents the sun, also hang a wind chime by your front door as the sound brings 'beautiful energy' into your house. Red flowers outside your front door are said to attract money.

Feng Shui basics are lighting, smell, touch, and taste. You can work this through the rest of your house by organizing your furniture starting with the largest piece in the room (ie your couch, or bed). Furniture arrangements and colors can bring out a number of emotions such as anxiety, sadness, lethargic, etc. Furniture should be made of natural materials as they are more harmonious to the chi - wood brings harmony to your house. Keep clutter to a minimum as clutter sucks out energy out of the home and makes room for new and more desirable things. Bamboo plants and fresh flowers are great for cleansing your chi. Mirrors reflect light and energy.

Color can make you feel energetic or lethargic. Yellow for instance is a good color for kitchens as it brings creativity and vitality. Green is a calming and healing color and is good for a living room or bedroom as it relaxes the body. Aromas are very important to bring into your house. Better the smell of fresh lemons than rotting food. Change the smell of your home by using scented candles or essential oils on a daily basis.

Your home office can be affected by Feng Shui as well. Sit in the farthest corner from your entrance as it commands authority. Don't sit in the path to your entrance because by doing that you will be in the path of negative energy. Keep a fish tank or a water fountain in your office as they will cultivate your business success.

Feng Shui is much more complicated than these few simple ideas that are listed here. But if you start off with these tips it can make your house more enjoyable to live in, by being more relaxing if nothing else. Perhaps, if nothing else, you will feel more positive about your living and working space and that's a bonus in itself, right?!

Bathrooms are sometimes hard to organize. This is because the space is small, and smaller areas are harder to maintain. Although small, bathrooms serve a large purpose. Most of our daily preparation occurs in the bathroom. We tend to house personal hygiene products and accessories in this small area. It does not take long for the countertop and cabinets to overflow.

Organizing the bathroom is easy and does not take much time. The hard part is setting aside the time to de-clutter. You should begin organizing the bathroom by removing all items from the cabinets above and below the sink. Group like items together. For example have a pile for perfumes, hair products, make-up, etc. It is easy to accumulate accessories over time. We are continually buying new products, yet we do not discard old ones. It does not take long to have a stock pile of products that we do not use. Once we have all products grouped together, go through each pile and determine what products to keep and which ones to throw away. It is tempting to keep everything. I will admit there have been times that I have thrown something away, only to need it a week later. However this is rare and the item is usually inexpensive.

Begin organizing by sorting through your make-up. There are some who keep make-up for long periods. This is not good. Cosmetics should be used within six months. The chemicals and ingredients that cosmetics are made from can become old. If old products are used on our faces they can result in breakouts. If you have any make-up that is older than six months it should be discarded. Make-up that looks old should also be thrown away. Do not become nervous if you notice your c