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I am addicted to HGTV. Some people play the radio all day, some watch CNN or financial channels. I watch HGTV. I'm in love, obsessed. I need a remix, a painted house, cute guys moving my furniture. I'm quilting, crafting and reusing junk I find on the streets. Most frightening of all, I am actually beginning to like the new retro sixties style I see more and more often. HGTV has crept into my soul, taken over my taste, changed my mind. I'm afraid.

I must admit I always had a weakness for furniture and Interior Design. I used to cruise the furniture floor of a local department store for entertainment. I read the magazines, took house tours, read news articles. I've even been to High Point, North Carolina,the furniture heaven of the south. I am not an interior designer so I only had access to the showrooms open to the public. I craved entry to all the show rooms so I found solace in a drury rug which accompanied me back to my humble home in the Midwest.

Then I gave it all up. The magazines were the first to go. They became too expensive and I grew tired of looking at beautiful rooms in rich peoples' houses. House tours became less appealing when I couldn't find babysitters. I began to read more articles on child development and less on the latest trends in furniture. I lost interest and walked away.

Then came HGTV and reawakened the suppressed desire I have for furniture, textiles, paint, and room remodels. I am relearning the language of design. If the color"pops" that's good. I am once again thinking in terms of color palettes, and the effect they have on your mood and mental health. I want style, even in my small spaces.

I became aware of just how much HGTV had changed my own personal style when I watched a rerun of a show concerning a kitchen makeover. Several months ago I watched the same program and was horrified by what I saw. I couldn't believe the amount of money spent to create what I viewed as a hideous kitchen. The countertops were concrete, the tile backsplash a mishmash and the dining area a testament to overpriced furniture .

This time around I found myself appreciating the color scheme, intrigued by the custom furniture and wondering if I could use plywood flooring in my unfinished television room. I still would not use concrete for my kitchen countertops but that is because it is too hard and I see myself breaking more glass than I already do. Even though they are beautiful, granite countertops do not tempt me for the same reason.

HGTV not only has kept me company during the day, it is slowly changing my own personal style. I was always traditional in my personal design choices. I was interested in modern furniture but merely as a spectator. I did not want it in my own home. I am not so sure anymore.

I am finding traditional style more and more boring. I am thinking more and more about how my family really lives and designing around our lifestyle rather than imposing on my family a design style that does not reflect our living patterns. Merely the fact that I am thinking about design style and living patterns is a change, a good change, but a change.

I know I am still in that romance stage with HGTV. Luckily I bought twenty year furniture and it still has several years to go on it. It's Hancock and Moore , a top of the line leather furniture brand. For what we paid for it , it should last twenty years. So I am not really at the point of redesigning my interior, just at the point of thinking about it.

HGTV has had more effect on my personal style in the last year than I realized. So I am afraid. Afraid HGTV is much more of a force than anyone realizes. It brings all levels of design into our homes everyday, all day. It is exposing huge numbers of people to design you had to actively seek out only a few years ago. So I am afraid but excited. Excited to learn of new products, new techniques, new ideas , new ways to live. I love HGTV.

Is this a love that will last? Who knows, but it has me exploring areas of interest I had long thought dead. HGTV challenges me to be creative and offers suggestions on how to get there. I am glad I am not currently buying new furniture, because maybe HGTV's influence is a little too strong. Time will tell, and I am certainly being entertained and educated in the meantime.

By Christina VanGinkel

A long time fan of decorating and home improvement shows on television, such as Design on a Dime, Room by Room, and Decorating Cents, I believed I had seen them all, that was until I discovered the new hit show on HGTV (Home & Garden Television) Junk Brothers. Oh-my-gosh, what a unique and fun format for a show, not to mention, just how in the world do they come up with such fantastic ideas? I hope by watching it long enough I will be able to pick up on how they envision the new in the junk they see, as they must, otherwise, what would prompt them to pick up some of the trash they do is beyond comprehension.

The show is hosted by, who else, brothers. Older brother Jim Kelley and his younger brother Steve are the hosts of the show. They literally pick up trash, castoffs really, that other people have deemed no good for anything but the junk pile. The two brothers carry their finds back to the shop where they miraculously turn the unwanted items into very nice items. Beds, dressers, bookcases, even bikes and much more, are revamped and transformed into useful pieces that the original homeowners can use in their homes, that is, after the stunned original owners are done staring in wonder at what was once just another piece of garbage on their scrap pile by the curb.

When I first saw an advertisement for this show, I have to tell you that what I imagined the show was going to be, was not accurate it all. It turned out to be something very different, when I actually took the time to sit down and watch it. I thought now, come on, how original are they going to be. What would be the big deal if they took a bureau or an old desk off the curb, took it home and sanded it, maybe painted it and re-stained it? However, I was soon to learn that definitely is not what this show is about. At the core, I believe that they want to show people that pieces of furniture and various other items have a lot of life in them beyond their initial purpose. Yeah, a few knobs might be missing, or a table might have a big crack in it, maybe a drawer or two are even missing. Still, with a bit of ingenuity and a plan of action, these seemingly useless pieces of junk are not only brought back to life, they are brought back in a form often much, much better than even their original purpose was.

I guess what I am getting at is that they transform the junk they pick up curbside they do not restore it. It goes far beyond that! An old stove, the sort you might see decorating a kitchen from the eighties, is transformed into an outdoor grill, hot looking enough to grace the backyard of the most up and coming family on the block. Backyard grill kings will all want a grill just like it so badly, that the risk of old stoves becoming a hot commodity just might happen! An advantage of the show that some might count as a huge plus too, is that curbside pickup on garbage day might just get a little lighter simply because people are going to be reluctant to toss much of what they do, seeing promise in what was once just another item to haul to the curb.

If you want to learn about more of the episodes, you can check out their website. You can read up on how they took an old busted up guitar and turned it into a sound system for the homeowner who originally tossed the guitar. In another episode, you can watch them take a dirty and old upholstered chair and transform it into a stunningly lovely loveseat. Each episode brings with it a fresh perspective on how the old and ordinary can be transformed into the new and unbelievable. If you have ever watched a single home improvement or decorating show with even a moderate amount of interest, Junk Brothers on HGTV (Home & Garden Television) is surely worth your time to check out.

Who doesn't want a beautiful, cozy home to open to friends and family and to enjoy yourself? Sometimes it can seem out of reach to make your decorating desires a reality due to the costs of new furniture, paint, and decorations. Through the years I have spent many hours thumbing through home decorating magazines and furniture store magazines trying to glean ideas to reproduce for a much lower cost. It is possible to have your dream home interior on a budget.

A good place to begin is with a change of color on the walls. Classic wallpapers, and new paints can be had at great prices in a vareity of home improvement and hardware stores. Think it through and you could purchase two or three colors and use them interchangeably throughout your home for variety and flair. A popular trend lately is to paint one wall a more bold color such as green, and paint the other walls a more subdued hue like a creamy biege. This will add a dynamite change to any room at thirty dollars or less.

Another necessity to spice up a room is eye-catching furniture that fits together. This doesn't have to mean you spend thousands of dollars purchasing a new couch and matching chairs. If you haven't already, look in your area for annual garage-sale days and flea markets-- gold mines for trendy pieces of furniture and antiques that can be pieced together in classic ways. These finds are usually crazily inexpensive and often, if you're picky and thorough in your search, this furniture can be found in excellent condition. Antique end tables, coffee tables, shelves, and lamps can transform a room and add a lot of taste to otherwise ordinary furniture. Another option for furniture is checking out furniture consignment shops. These are frequently a little higher priced than garage sales, but are sometimes in better shape. A store that you can pop into weekly is a good bet, as they usually get new inventory in and out fast and this will increase your chances of finding something you want.

Many college towns or larger cities have village-wide “dump days” where people place undesirables on the curb. These are free to anyone who decides they are not junk, but treasure! I have found perfectly gorgeous headboards, shelves, baskets, and other decorating items just be scouring the curbs! This may not be your idea of a fun time, but it truly is a great way to find nice things, for FREE. If you stick to wealthier neighborhoods and don’t mind ignoring a lot of junk in order to find that lucky item, give it a try.

A few new throw pillows with complementary, colorful patterns can totally change the feel of a space. Keeping your furniture, but just adding new pillows and a new floor rug may be all you need to allow a fresh breeze of change into your home. Department stores and most home retailers carry wide ranges of patterned and solid pillows and rugs for affordable prices.

Local retailers or seamstresses are a gem of a find and are usually much less costly to hire for custom curtains or comforters. Beginning a customer relationship with local tailor will save you dollars as well as allow you to be more selective about accessories in your home, such as new drapes or an upgraded duvee. A friend of mine tried this herself and was able to have a gorgeous duvee and matching curtains made from a sheet that she found that perfectly fit what she was looking for-- as she was unable to find it in any stores.

Lamps are an inexpensive way to change the mood in any room. Looking for some extra light, tuck a stylish lamp in the corner. Need to add height to that desk? Select a classy lamp to complement the look. Lamps are available everywhere, and the latest trend is in different shapes of the shade. By simply selecting some new lamp shades in a vareity of shapes, you could renovate your room into an entirely new look.

Remember, decorating is supposed to be fun, a hunt for treasure to make your home your very own special place to share with others. There is no one way to decorate, or to purchase what you need. Step out and find yourself a treasure in one of these unconventional, inexpensive methods, today!

There are countless decorating themes to consider, from ancient to modern. All you need is some cash, an empty room, and a whole lot of creative imagination. (And with the Internet you have accent to countless other imaginations, as well). Some of us like the idea of a room that reflects antiquity and brings the beauty of an ancient civilization like Rome, Egypt, or Greece. You might think you can't buy furniture in this theme, but that is simply not true. As you journey through the Internet you will discover that you can find just about anything. Say you've decided to use your passion of the Roman culture to create a new living space.

What did Roman walls look like? Usually they were hand-painted with bright mosaics in every theme and color, but that takes a lot of time and money and you probably won't find many painters whose creativity matches the Roman sense of style. Murals are one option; one wall covered with a mural of a Roman vineyard makes a fine choice for ancient decor. If the idea of vibrant colors splashed all over doesn't entice you, consider painting Ionic or Corinthian columns over the walls to give your room a temple look.

Don't know what to do with your ceilings? There are a few ideas that may inspire you. Murals can be painted on ceilings as well but this would be a very expensive and time-consuming venture. Consider putting in beams or covering the area with stucco to enhance the ancient feel. If you want some decor and don't want to paint or wallpaper the whole thing, consider a few wallpaper appliques placed here and there. It depends on how authentic you want to be.

Many Romans weren't wild about rooms completely filled with furniture, so you probably want to keep it sparse and authentic. You can find chaise lounges, reclining couches, chairs, and tables that reflect the ancient style; a few pieces placed strategically around the room will do wonders for your theme. If you are creating a bedroom and are interested in the current trend of having a flat bed that is low to the floor, you are following Roman decor more closely than you think. A simple mattress in an ornately-carved bedframe will catapult you a few thousand years in the past. Keep in mind these weren't particularly built for comfort, so this may not be a piece of authentic furniture that you want to invest in. Roman columns serving as tables or free-standing pieces are another idea.

Artwork in Roman and Greek themes is very easy to find. You can look for people, mythology, Tuscan countryside, and many other styles. Framed portraits of the ruins of Rome or reconstructions of the ancient city are another good choice. Look for urns, fake flowers, and fountains to adorn tables and corners. Consider collecting models that pertain to your interests; a model of the Coliseum is a great addition to a Roman themed room. Some party companies sell cut-outs and decor that will match your theme, but these may be a little cheap-looking for the vision you want to achieve. Fill a shelf with books about Roman history, militaria, famous emperors, and so on. No Roman room would be complete without a bust of Caesar! If you're into mythology you can find busts and statues of many Roman gods and goddesses.

Windows are another factor. The aptly-named Roman shades are one idea, as well as simple curtains in plain colors. Even though the Romans probably didn't have many curtains as we know them, you could probably blend a little bit of the old in with the new here. Again, it's important to do research and discover which style is best for you. If you want regular curtains, consider a regal but muted print. Romans certainly didn't have access to bright and gaudy materials with which to make window coverings.

If you have doorways and archways that can be decorated, consider placing wallpaper cut-outs around the tops or sides for an added, colorful touch. Little cherubs, grape leaves, or other ancient symbols should do nicely. If you're planning a dining room in this theme, clay pots and dishes and simple implements can be used to give you a feel of the past. You can decorate your kitchen in the Tuscan style with a wine or grape theme, and it will still tie into the Roman style.

By Lacie R. Schaeffer

Books are a beautiful thing. They help a person learn new information, entertain through quiet hours, and can even add spice and character to home decorating. That's right, if you haven't already, consider books as a creative way to enhance a room. Books go with any color and design and theme your particular room may have, making this a credible option for everyone. There are a number of ways to incorporate your favorite literary works or magazines into your interior designs.
Great Ideas for Using Books in Decorating:

-Book shelves are the primary and most obvious method of displaying books.
Not only do they make you look more studios and academic while they rest upon the shelves, but books also add warmth and variety to any setting. In addition, alternating books in different directions or stacking books and topping them with a colorful candle accents the whole scene and creates an inviting atmosphere.

-Books can also be used as an end table.
While decorating on a budget, sometimes furniture canot be had. No need to be without, stack large coffee-table volumes or other hard-cover books from the floor up and you have yourself a unique table people will notice.

-Add height to a lamp.
In my guest bedroom in my home, a very short lamp adorns a reading table. For taller people to read by it, it's too short. Solution? A stack of colorfully toned books neatly stacked beneath the lamp. The books accent the colors in the room and add an attractive extension to the lamp.

-Books as shelves.
Books make great shelves. Stack them up on a desk, dresser or nightstand and use them to support other books, framed photos, or clocks.

-Table centerpieces.
Collectors books or publications with colorful bindings make an attractive table centerpiece. Coordinate the colors or go for an eclectic flair with opposing designs. Stack the books on their side and top with a colorful plant. Or arrange the books in a creative pattern in the center of the table for an eye-pleasing, creative guest-charmer.

-Enhance the mantle.
Could the mantle in your house use a change from the same-old family photos? Diversify with creative piling of books, beneath photos, leaning next to other books or alternated by bunches of flowers.

By Misti Sandefur

Does your closet look like a tornado hit it? Well, you're not alone. Many households have unorganized closets, and it's mainly because things in a closet can be hidden. However, when it's time for you to find something to wear you can't. How would you like to be able to find the outfit or pair of shoes you're searching for the next time you enter your closet? It would be great, wouldn't it? The good news is you can find what you're searching for if you take the extra time to organize your closet. "But where do I start? Can my closet really be organized?" you ask. Sure it can! Follow the advice in this article and you'll be pleased with your closet and yourself the next time you hunt for your favorite shirt or pair of shoes. Who knows, you may even find something that has been missing for so long you forgot you even had it.

Begin by taking everything out of your closet and placing it on the bed, or somewhere other than the closet; trust me, this is the best way to start the organization process.

As soon as your closet is completely empty, you will need to sort things out into separate piles. Place clothes and other items that you don't wear or use anymore in your first pile. Then put all your fall and winter clothes in a second pile, all your spring and summer clothes in a third pile. Finally, your last pile will be the leftovers (shoes, belts, scarves, etc.).

Now that you have everything sorted into piles, go back to your first pile. Since you no longer wear or use these items anymore, why not give them to someone who will, or to someone who needs them. Another alternative is to have a rummage sale and make a little money, and then you can give away the things you don't sell. Place all these items in a box and set the box aside.

Since you've boxed up the things you no longer wear or use, you can focus on the remaining items -- the things you will be keeping. But hold on... don't go shoving things back into your closet just yet, because you need to organize what's left.

For your second and third piles, if the season is now fall then store the spring and summer clothes in plastic totes. (Totes are inexpensive and don't take up a lot of room.) Next, place all your fall and winter clothes on hangers, but don't hang them in the closet just yet.

Before you put anything back into the closet, you need to take care of your last pile. For all your shoes, invest in a shoe rack that hangs over the door (you may need two if you have many shoes). If your closet has a door then you can place your shoe rack over that door, and if your closet does not have a door place the rack over the back of your bedroom door. The shoe rack(s) allows you to remove all shoes from your closet, because believe it or not, shoes do make a closet look cluttered. Besides, without the shoes in your closet you will have extra closet space.

For your belts, scarves and other accessories, install some hooks on the wall in your closet. Once installed, you will be able to hang these accessories on hooks so they'll no longer be loose in your closet, and you can easily find what you need later down the road.

Remember the seasonal clothes you stored in plastic totes? Great, now place those plastic totes neatly in your closet. If you have too many totes and you think they'll make your closet look cluttered again, or if you believe they'll take up way too much space, then consider placing some of those seasonal clothes in an under-the-bed tote. Another alternative to totes is shelves. Hang a couple shelves on the wall in your closet. After you've hung the shelves, fold some of the seasonal clothes and place them on the shelves. You can use both totes and shelves if you wish.

Finally, install two rods in your closet -- place one rod higher than the other. Once installed, hang all your longer garments (dresses, long skirts, etc.) on the higher rod, and hang the remaining garments on the lower rod. While you hang your clothes you can organize them by colors, gender (if you have a spouse), or etc.

You should now have a neatly organized closet! Won't it feel good to go to your closet and find what you need without fumbling through a mess?

Every fall as the stores prepare their back-to-school product displays, an abundance of unique chairs hits the sales floor. These chairs are mainly intended for students in dorm rooms, but there's no reason why you can't enjoy one of these designs in your own home.

Bean Bag Chair
This is a classic design for lounging. I have one I've had since I was a kid. I distinctly remember laying on it when I had chicken pox. My bean bag chair was a vinyl one, and the cool, smooth surface was the only thing that made my itchy skin feel better. I've kept it around as it moved from my bedroom to my parents' basement rec room to my dorm to my current apartment. Nowadays, my cat is the most likely thing to be curled up in it, but I keep it around partly out of nostalgia and partly because I think it's an inviting place to relax. They're perfect for lounging around the dorm room, but couldn't everyone else also use a little lounging from time to time? You can curl up with a good book or just stare at the TV. A variety of coverings mean that you can find a bean bag to fit any color scheme. There's no need to be stuck with the bright vinyl designs of the past.

Video Chair
These chairs are unique in that they don't have any legs. They sit directly on the floor and the bottom curves up to a straight back, so they actually rock back and forth a bit. I've always been a bit afraid of them because I'm sure I would topple backwards if I sat in one. But I still think they're an ingenious design for their purpose. They're meant to make it more comfortable to sit in front of the TV for extended periods of time. Now this can be handy when a 12-hour marathon of your favorite crime drama comes on, but it's mainly meant for video game players. There's no need to sit hunched over on the floor anymore; you can lean back in comfort as you shoot aliens or race around the city. Gamers of all ages should consider getting one of these. Their backs will thank them.

Camping Chair
These chairs are a bit like the old director's chairs. They are made with a collapsible metal frame, and the fabric seat and back hang between the sides. These chairs are useful anywhere you might need temporary seating. They fold up into a relatively compact package, so they could easily be tucked in the closet or under a bed.

Fabric Folding Chair
Now this is a new design I've seen for the very first time this fall. The frame is a bit like the frame used for those plastic-webbing-covered folding chairs you see in the summer. However, instead of plastic, the frame holds two plush cushions. It's the best of convenience and comfort combined in a lightweight chair. I've also seen a similarly design loveseat. It was basically a folding chair big enough for two people. I thought that one would be especially great for filling in a small space in a living room with extra seating or for giving the kids an extra place to sit with friends in their room.

Papasan Chairs
In papasan chairs, a large circular cushion is nestled inside a similarly circular frame. The circular frame is attached at a slight angle to a stabilizing base. These chairs give you the lounging feeling of a bean bag chair or similar chair while also being a more standard piece of furniture. The wooden frames can fit more easily into even the most staid living room decor.

Micro fiber
No matter what type of chair you choose, the fabric of the moment is definitely micro fiber. This material is actually a slightly-piled polyester that feels almost like suede. Even though it feels much like suede, it offers a distinct advantage over the leather because it is much easier to clean. It's incredibly soft, and it's everywhere. Any chair instantly seems more comfortable with that soft fabric next to your skin. It's also available in pillows and throws if you would prefer sticking to a micro fiber accent.