If you want to decorate your home or office but have a limited budget, or need to jazz your place up when selling your home, then creating your own artwork for under $10, and in under 1 hour is the best way to do it. You don’t need to be an artist to create a work of art, all you need is to follow the steps below and your home or office will have a decorator look in no time.

What you need –

A range of different colour acrylic paint tubes, plus one white or black paint.
A plastic bowl for mixing paint.
A packet of foam brushes in various widths.
A paint splash sheet or old newspapers.
A water container to wet your foam brushes.
A stick from the garden or blunt pointed object like a chop stick.

TIP – If you don’t already have acrylic paint and foam brushes, you can get these from any $2 bargain stores (AU – Crazy Clarks, The Warehouse, etc), or online art supply estores. Your initial outlay for (4) medium tubes of paint and a packet of foam brushes will be around $10. This should be enough to make 3 – 4 artworks as specified below.

Once you have your paint and brushes, all you need is your framed canvas which you can also get from a $2 bargain store. They vary in price and size but, to keep your project under $10, you can buy a 40 x 40cm (16” x 16”) framed canvas for around $8.00.

Let’s Paint –

Lay your canvas out onto your splash sheet or newspaper.
Squeeze out about 30mls (1 fluid Ounce) of one paint colour into your mixing bowl, wet a large foam brush with water and blend it in with paint. The more watery it is the easier it is to spread the paint onto the canvas, however, don’t make it too watery if you want vibrant colours or textured strokes).
Visually or lightly with a pencil, divide the canvas roughly into three sections horizontally.
Apply the paint to the bottom third of the canvas in long wide strokes, remembering to paint along the sides of this section also. You can make the paint smooth or textured depending on what you like. Squeeze out more paint as necessary.
Wash out the bowl and brush or get another one and use a new colour repeating step (2).
Using the technique in step (4), paint the middle section of your divided canvas making sure to overlap the previous colour with the new one.
Repeat with another colour for the final section at the top of the canvas.
Rinse your bowl and brush again and squeeze out 30mls of white or black paint into the bowl. Add as much water as needed to make a consistency of custard.
Now comes the fun part – Dip your brush into the paint and begin flicking and or dripping paint onto the canvas randomly in one or more sections. Stop when you get an effect you find pleasing to look at.
The following step is optional – Take your garden stick or chop stick, and randomly move it through the paint blobs in straight or swirling movements around the canvas. Do not do this to all blobs, just select a few at random.
Now it’s finished, allow it to dry and it’s ready to hang (acrylic paint dries quickly, but how fast will depend on the room temperature and how thick your paint is).

Variations on this style are endless, for example –

Divide the canvas sections vertically, diagonally, or in four squares.
Choose one colour that will compliment your décor, and for each section mix black or white to it to alter the shade.
Instead of paint splashes you could just paint circles, spirals, random shapes, handprints, or nothing at all.
Use your imagination and do what feels right or whatever comes to mind.

Remember that what one person classifies as art, another may not understand.
Art is in the eye of the beholder and it’s different for everyone.

If it’s art to you, then it is an artwork!

Monique Arrighi is an artist, photographer and proprietor of MakinArtworx.com. At MakinArtworx we digitally create contemporary and original WINDOW ART BLINDS and CANVAS ART from your photos and ours. Window Art Blinds are pull down blinds with our artwork or your photos printed on them. All blinds are custom made to your window size and are available in a see through mesh or blockout style fabric.

Please visit the website to view our Window Art Blinds and Canvas Art, or to subscribe to our Art & Decorating Ezine -

makinartworx.com makinartworx.com

Shades and blinds are an excellent option to combat excess light filtering into any rooms of a house. There are various types of blinds available in the market as well as on the Net. There are four basic types of blinds, namely, PVC, composite, value and premium wood blinds. Depending on the décor of the house, people can opt for a particular type of blind.

Faux or PVC blinds are made of poly vinyl chloride, which could be either solid or foamed, as per requirement. They are known to be long lasting, can resist UV and moisture, and are very easy to clean. Their slats are very heavy, though. These blinds are cheap since the slats and other parts are made of PVC.

Composite blinds are a fairly recent entry into the market. The slats come in flat or elliptical shapes. The slat surface is generally poly-coated. The choice of colors is limited. Composite blinds are priced in the low- to mid-range. They are quite sturdy, and UV and water-resistant. They are less likely to rot and easier to clean. Composite blinds are lighter than PVC blinds, but heavier than the wood variety.

Value and premium wood blinds are made from Oriental hardwoods. The slats of premium wood blinds are made of American hardwoods such as basswood. Wood blinds are the most exclusive blinds a buyer can go in for. Wood blind slats are the lightest of all blinds and are the best bet for large windows.

Customers may choose blinds according to personal preference, for light-filtering, room darkening or simply as a part of elaborate interior decoration. There are choices that can be made in fabric, color and style, as per their requirements and budget. Elite customers can also opt for some of the top brands in blinds such as Bali, Hunter Douglas and Graber.

z-Blinds.com Blinds provides detailed information on Blinds, Venetian Blinds, Wood Blinds, Vinyl Blinds and more. Blinds is affiliated with i-Tapestry.com Tapestry Wall Hangings.

The Scandinavian look is a bright, airy style that makes you feel like you can breathe easier just by stepping into it. This look is carefully constructed to give the illusion of light and sprang from Sweden’s harsh, long winter evenings. The overall look is homey and inviting.Color here is viewed as an opportunity to create the brightness of a summer sky with marshmallow clouds and its cheerful vibes. For your base, you’ll want something like white, cream or sky blue, complemented with touches of warm yellow and gold, baby pink and bold red, gray and light green. Use these colors to stencil hearts, ribbons, scrolls and gatherings of wheat upon walls.

Like your walls and draperies, keep your floors light and bright! Consider blonde or pale woods, or a light hued paint for your floors. If you want to jazz things up, stencil or paint pale designs (like stripes and diamonds) on the floor’s surface. And don’t forget your floor coverings! In this case, pick up an eco-friendly sisal rug, like the kind found here, for a natural, attractive covering that protects your floors and family’s feet.

Wall sconces are the key to your success with this look. Choose relatively simple, small sconces with a tin, gold or brass finish and place them in sets along your wall for artful framing and light play. Plain table lamps and unfussy chandeliers also help add light to an already bright interior. Keep your furniture uncomplicated and clean for the Scandinavian style. Curvilinear designs reign in blonde woods like birch, beech, and alder and may come painted white. Legs are often tapered or fluted and tables sometimes bear scrolled borders for extra style. For the bedroom, opt for upholstered head and footboards, or go for basic wood in a canopy bed, trundle or daybed style. Keep in mind there should be nothing imposing or ostentatious about Scandinavian furniture, considering it takes its cues from country and folk styles. For ideas, browse GREENCulture’s large furniture site.

If you want to dress up walls, keep things uncomplicated. You can use moldings, some restrained stenciling and uncluttered floral patterns on your walls. Match any florals you do use to freshly cut flowers displayed in pitchers, vases or on wreathes for windows and bookcases. Flowers that match the Scandinavian color scheme include yellow daisies, pink roses and white flowers.

Lastly, don’t feel the need to fill up every space with knick-knacks and accessories, as it can work to undermine the light, airy feel you’ve worked to create. Use mirrors to create the illusion of even more open space and to reflect light, and use light colored accents like blue and white china, silver and glass to add shine and style.

For a HUGE selection of contemporary and European-inspired bedroom and living room furniture, visit Eco-Furniture today:
eco-furniture.com/main_bedroom.html eco-furniture.com/main_bedroom.html
eco-furniture.com/main_living.html eco-furniture.com/main_living.html

At this year’s Consumer Electronics Show, 150,000 people stormed las vegas to see the latest high Definition entertainment and other electronic gadgets for the home.

Having a media room used to be reserved for the rich & famous sitting in their 50-seat screen rooms, drinking Cognac and smoking cigares.

Well, No More!

Ordinary people like you and I can now afford our own Media Room with HDTVs, surround sound and all the bells & whistles. There are now DIY solutions for the rest of us.

To set up your own media room, first choose the room with the least amount of lights; usually the basement which no longer is the domain of ping pong tables and dusty toolboxes.
Place your TV away from any windows and place a 10-watt incandescent or fluorescent lignt behind the TV to reduce eyestrain. It also helps to paint the walls in a neutral color like gray.

Now that you have the Big HDTV set-up, you need to accessorize it.
Yes, what’s the right furniture for the room?
Well, let’s start with the seating:
There is now a distinc furniture caegory called “Media Room Furniture”. The chairs offer abundant choices in padding, motion and sizes. Most designs have double-feature comfort with soft materials that absorb the sound waves better thus giving you a better sound quality in the room.

For the Entertainment Center, avoid dust, poor ventilation and stacking up electronics on top of each other; this can block vents and reduce performance. Close cabinet doors when the system in not in use and look for furniture with adjustable shelves to make sure you have enough room to clean your different components without having to pull them out. If you live in the South where it gets pretty hot in the summer, I recommend a small media fan that turns on automatically when temperatures rise.

Finally, have fun decorating your media room with a theme. Whether you like dolls, coins, computers or past presidents, have fun decorating with paintings, memorabilia, oe whatever to give the room its own personality.

Visit www.rkea.com today to find the right furniture at great prices. With hundreds of categories and thousands of different pieces, you’ll have fun picking out just the right piece of furniture for your media room.

Abe Niang is the webmaster for rkea.com. rkea.com.
Visit his business blog at rkea.com rkea.com for high-end furniture at discount prices today.

Many furniture themes are associated with a particular time in history. Federal theme furniture, in pa

In 1783, the Peace Treaty of Paris was signed giving the American Colonies their independence from Great Britain. The new nation was to bring many innovations of their own to the world stage, and one was a new and distinct theme of furniture making and design that is called the Federal Theme. The Federal period is usually dated from 1780 to 1820. The theme replaced the earlier American Chippendale theme, but the connection with the mother country was not completely broken. Simply put, American Federal theme furniture did retain some of the British influence.

It was a time of elegance in the emerging nation. Ladies would be sipping tea in finely appointed drawing rooms, while the men smoked and discussed the politics of the times in spacious libraries. Fortunes were being made as well, and the newly wealthy wanted large homes furnished in elaborate theme. Federal theme furniture was just the ticket.

Dark woods were extremely popular at the time. In Europe, mahogany was the wood of choice, but the Americans were making much use of cherry wood which was every bit as beautiful. A less expensive option was walnut that was usually stained a deep red with potassium chloride. There was much use of intricate workmanship. Contrasts were a very popular theme. Often inlays of different woods were used. Sometimes the wood was scorched to produce darker and lighter areas.

In the later part of the period, as the break with Great Britain became more distinct, there was much use of Stars and Eagles as decorative motifs. These national symbols replaced the more European standards that had been used in the beginning. There was much variety within the theme. Duncan Phyfe, a well known craftsman of the era, favored the mahogany wood, and is famous for his chairs which featured concave backs and concave legs. Another designer of the time, Charles Honore Lannuier was fond of using brass and gilded ornamentation on his pieces.

The Federal Period burned with a bright flare of theme through the early years of the American experience, but soon the excitement and newness of nationhood had worn off. The new era that would lead to the American Civil War was beginning. The country was beginning its expansion that would take it into the west and to the Pacific Ocean. The Federal period and the elegant federal theme furniture it produced would take its place in the history books. The pieces that remain today are valuable antiques that speak to us of a long ago time when the United States was in its infancy, and the potential was unlimited. Perhaps it still is.

Stephan Teak is with

Whether you need building material as a contractor or if you are simply looking to do some remodeling on your own home, you may be discouraged about the rising costs and lower availability of some items. If you could save money and do something good for the environment with your building material choices would that appeal to you? One of the current trends in construction and building projects is to use “green” or salvaged building material products. These types of products will often save you money on purchase, but they may also save you money over time, with their energy saving features.

When you think of a “green” building material, what do you think of? If you think it is limited to those items which are remanufactured or produced using only recycled materials, you would be wrong. These types of products also include those building material choices which will conserve energy or use or reduce replacement costs over time. It can include everything from the choice of windows that limit the heat to light bulbs that conserve electricity. Some of these building material items may cost more on the original purchase price, but over time, they will give the consumer considerably more savings.

Another environmentally friendly building material choice is salvaged or reused products. You can find everything from specialized equipment for your factory or business to that period light fixture to put in the dining room. Think of it as a vintage building material. These items can often be offered at a considerable savings because they are used, and might otherwise just end up in a junkyard. People who might find this appealing are homeowners who have historic homes needing restoration, looking for materials that are no longer on the market, or business owners who are trying to build at a discounted cost.

You can find these types of materials in a number of different places. If you are lucky, you may be able to find them in the classified section of your local paper or online. You can also look at an online auction site for individual items such as a particular light fixture. Home improvement stores and online dealers offer many green products. There are salvage warehouses that offer products that they have collected from demolitions, etc. Most metropolitan areas have at least one of these warehouses. You can even find many websites which match salvage sellers with salvage buyers.

Eriani Doyel writes articles about Building. If you would like more information about

The average person visits the bathroom about 6-8 times a day, making it an average of 2,500 times a year. That adds up to about 3 years of your life on the john. If we factor in how much the average person spends in the shower or bath, taking into account here that we live in a hyper clean society, we have to tack on a couple more years. At least. And then think about everything else you do in there, from bathing your kids to getting ready for a night out. That’s a lot of time in that small space we call the bathroom.

It’s no wonder then, that remodeling trends for bathrooms have been doing flips and turns faster than the water going down in your toilet. And more spectacularly, too.

The bathroom has become a proper room in the home, much like a bedroom or a library. Bathroom remodeling has become a much more involved process that takes into account, rather seriously, the varying needs of the people using the space and the various design elements that can be incorporated into the space.

Here are some things that are changing and that you too, with a bit of planning, can change in your own bathroom:

Bigger bathrooms:
Bathrooms are getting bigger and bigger. People are knocking down walls to give themselves more room in the space, making it a veritable room instead of the traditional closet like space that we have gotten used to entering sideways and exiting as quickly as possible. People in older homes are knocking down walls to make room while those building new houses plan ahead for a larger bathroom space.

Fancier appliances:
More room lets you explore the space more. People have been making the best of the larger areas and there has been a surge in high end appliances. Not only is there more room for them, but the appliances are getting affordable, accessible, and people are starting to view them as an essential part of the bathroom rather than as a luxury. This includes steam and jet showers, whirlpools, Jacuzzis, bathroom furniture and cabinetry, to name a few.

Less limiting designs:
The options open to someone remodeling their bathroom are limitless. Part of this comes from the new found perception that bathrooms can be aesthetically and stylistically interesting places and people’s newfound willingness to make them so. But new materials, like specially treated, water resistant hardwood flooring, paint, lighting options, furniture, cabinetry and hardware appropriate for the bathroom and specially designed for it have made their way onto the market. For example, while most people still opt for traditional, porcelain, white sinks in the bathroom, there are many other options available, like colored glass bowls, antique-looking ceramic bowls and even stainless steel bowls. Additionally, vanity designs span the entire spectrum from antique designs to the ultra contemporary. New flooring options can also transform the space completely. The addition of color and mixing of materials in the bathroom are both on the rise as well.

Check out everything you need for your brand new bathroom at barefootfloor.com .barefootfloor.com or just look for ideas.

As it’s name implies, wall paneling is simply panels of wood or other material that makes up the inside wall of your home. Wall paneling is available in both solid colors and designs, which can be coordinated with the decor of your home.

If you are in the market for wall paneling, a large number of home improvement stores carry sheets that you can view in person. If the kind of wall paneling that you want is not in stock, the salesperson will likely be able to provide you with a book that shows all of the different colorations and designs that are available. All wall paneling is pre-cut to measure 4×8 and can be delivered on site for an additional delivery charge.

For the do-it-yourselfer, wall paneling can be easily installed if you have basic knowledge of carpentry. If you aren’t familiar with the process or simply do not have the time to devote to installing your wall paneling, a professional contractor or home repair specialist can install it for you. In addition, the home improvement store that sold you the wall paneling can most likely handle the installation for an additional fee.

When doing any work on your home, be it construction or otherwise, always be sure to wear the proper protective gear. This may include goggles to keep anything from getting into your eyes and gloves to protect your hands from injury. It is also a good idea to have a friend or relative with you while you are doing any type of construction on your home. Even if the job is fit for one individual and you do not require the help of another, it’s a good idea to have someone nearby incase of a mishap or unexpected difficulty that you may encounter when installing your wall paneling.

As for it’s appearance, wall paneling is smooth and easy to clean. Any store that sells wall paneling should also have a product that can be used to clean it, along with instructions on it’s use. It is important to follow cleaning guidelines carefully, which will benefit both you and your home. Wall paneling is reasonably priced, which makes it easy for even those on a budget to decorate the home of their dreams at a price they can afford. And best of all, there aren’t any dangerous paint fumes that often result from trying to get the walls of your home to match your decor. With wall paneling, everything is pre-cut and constructed and all that is required is the proper installation.

Want to learn more about wall-paneling-guide.info wall paneling? Make sure you visit our site at: wall-paneling-guide.info wall-paneling-guide.info for access to additional wall paneling tips and information.

If you’ve spent several hundred dollars for a matching set of furniture for your living room (otherwise known as a suite, and consisting of two chairs and a couch), the last thing you want is for one of those three items to become stained by drink, food, or pet accidents.

The logical thing to do is put slipcovers on them.

Slipcovers of the past – made from plastic or vinyl – are definitely in the past! These days, slipcovers come in a vast variety of designs and colors, as well as fabrics, so that you are sure to find something you like. So, you’ll be able to protect your suite with these slipcovers, maintaining that matching upholstery look, while the overall design of the furniture matches as well.

What kind of slipcovers should you get?

Well, that depends entirely on how much use your living room suite will have to bear. If you have a lot of visitors who use the living room, or kids that spend a lot of time jumping up from the chair or couch, you’ll want a sturdier fabric than if the room is used in a sedate manner.

Fabrics

Fitted slipcovers come in a vast array of fabrics. Cotton, denim, damask and leather are only a few of the choices. Visit your local home furnishing stores to see and feel these fabrics in person, but if you don’t see anything you like don’t hesitate to surf the web to see what’s available.

Colors and Patterns

Slipcovers are so popular that there are a great many colors and patterns available. So much so that it’s highly doubtful that you won’t be able to find something you like. Again, if you don’t see anything you like in your local stores (and you should always support your local stores if possible) then surf the web, as you’re sure to find something.

Color and pattern are important considerations, of course, as you want them to blend in with the decor in your living room.

Why slipcovers

You may be asking yourself why, if you just purchased a brand new suite because you liked the pattern and color of the fabric, you should cover it up. Well, you might be able to get that fabric in a slipcover as well, so you’ll just be putting an extra layer on those pieces of furniture!

It’s not necessary to put your slipcovers on your new suite and leave them there. Slipcovers are made to be removable, after all. Use them only at certain times – when you’re having a party, for example, and take them off when done. In that way you’ll protect your new furniture and keep it safe for a long time to come.

Adam Peters is a consultant who writes on many consumer topics like sofas for home-decorating-reviews.com home-decorating-reviews.com . A website with tips on home-decorating-reviews.com/SlipcoverFurniture.html slipcover furniture.

Metal bunks beds are very popular, particularly since they are typically less expensive than wood bunk beds. Most metal bunk beds are manufactured in Taiwan, Malaysia and Mexico and are sold in the U.S. by importers and retailers. Tubular metal is used to construct these beds and they are often painted with high gloss black, white, red or blue paint. These metal bunk beds typically sell for between $150 and $250 each.

With metal bunk beds, both the frame and the ladder are constructed of metal. Metal bunk beds can be a twin bed over a twin bed, a twin bed over a full-sized bed, or simply a twin bed over empty space where you can put a couch, desk, dresser or other items.

Metal bunk beds are generally much lighter than wood bunk beds. This makes them more flexible, allowing you to change the format of the bedroom much more easily. The lesser weight also makes them a more viable online purchase. Specifically, shipping costs are less due to weight and due to the fact that the metal tubes are much thinner than the wood used in wooden bunk beds.

Metal bunk beds are often easy to self-assemble with basic tools such as screwdrivers and pliers. Connections and welds should be checked regularly to ensure that continued stability of the metal bunk bed.

e-bunkbeds.com Bunk Beds Info provides information on the types of bunk beds that are available, and how and where to buy a bunk bed. Bunk Beds Info is the sister site of e-murphybeds.com Murphy Beds Web.