Think about Victorian decor, one of the mainstays of the “new vintage” trend, and what comes to mind? Rich-looking, ornate styles, with big price tags attached, right? It doesn’t to be expensive if you know how to make the most of what you already have, along with fabulous finds from other sources.

As always with decorating on a budget, start by thinking about paint, one of the most economical yet striking changes you can make in a room. Vintage decor of the Victorian era is lush with deep, jewel tones such as emerald green, sapphire or ruby. It isn’t necessary to paint all the walls in these colors; in fact, it’s not a good idea to do so if it’s a smaller room you’re decorating in vivid vintage. If that’s the case, pick one wall as an accent, then paint the other walls in a light, but complementary tone. You’ll be surprised at how much an accent wall like this can convey.

Next, think as the Victorians did and get a brilliant Oriental area rug for the floor. Not only were the Vics fond of its ornate patterns, the vivid colors added more depth to the overall intensity of the room’s colors.

With a good rug on the floor, it’s time to think furniture. One way to keep to the budget is to get distressed tables and drape them with single-size white or floral sheets. You can tie them up here and there with ribbons (another Victorian touch) or let them pool onto the floor or area rug and top them with lace doilies.

For the larger furniture, wicker makes an economical and stylish option to the heavy carved (and expensive) walnut furniture common to Victorian decor. The trick with wicker is that it requires frequent maintenance to remove dust and dirt that collects in the curves of its woven pattern. Because of this, it’s essential to know what kind of wicker you have.

Wicker comes in three types: paper, reed and resin. Paper wicker is made by twisting paper into strips that are then woven. Reed comes from natural fibers that are soaked until pliable and then woven into the familiar crisscross pattern. Resin wicker is actually made from molded plastic, and is the most durable of the three types. All three types can be cleaned gently with a damp, but not dripping, cloth. Reed and resin wicker also can be hosed down if they get extremely dirty, but don’t hose paper wicker. As you might guess, paper wicker will soak up the water and rot.

With wicker you’ll also want plenty of cushions and pillows in floral patterns, as well as linens with embroidery, ribbons and lace in white or natural. Thrift stores, yard sales, even flea markets can be good sources for vintage linens with handmade embroidery. Linens with less expensive machine-embroidered patterns can be found at discount stores. Embroidered linens and fabrics are used on tablecloths, curtains and even upholstery in Victorian decor.

Speaking of fabrics, Victorians were big on brocade, velvets and toiles. Any one of these can break a decorating budget, so keep watch for accent pieces in these more expensive fabrics that will add a touch more vintage.

Now for the finishing touches. While you’re shopping in thrift stores, look for ornate frames to display sepia-toned photographs or nostalgic reproduction postcards or greeting cards. Remember that Victorians loved groupings, so look for china pieces in rose or floral patterns. You can even press flowers and frame them for group displays on wall or table.

The romance of a previous century is all yours with a room done in Victorian decor.

Discover where Interior Design experts do their shopping for rugs, and discover their favorite black area rugs.

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Beach Decor – Before you start decorating with beach decor, close your eyes for a moment and think about “the beach” – what comes to your mind? What colors, textures, even what feeling did you have? Picture the water, the sand and the sky – and all you see are the colors of golden or white sand, different shades of blue (from a real greenish kind of blue to aquamarine through to sky and royal blue) and also stark white in the clouds, or in the foam of the waves. Beach decor should reflect these colors, and the openness and pure nature of beaches. They evoke a feeling of rest, relaxation and freedom, as in “being able to breathe”, all your sorrows fall behind, all your worries become insignificant.

This is the mood you want to create when using beach decor for your home decorating. An oasis of restful, soothing colors and an openness where people (you!) can kick their shoes off and come to rest.

Picking the right wall colors is the most important part when creating the relaxing mood of the beach. Get that wrong, and nothing will work! So please spend the time on deciding which ones of the “beach” colors you want to have on your walls, because ideally you want to be happy with them for years to come.

• Sandy Colors – picture the beaches you have been to, the sand could have been nearly white, or quite yellow, or a tan shade. Try to stick with pale colors, as the feeling of openness and relaxation you want to create will start to diminish the darker you go.
• Blues – I would recommend to stick with pale blue colors, again for the reason of keeping your home feeling open and airy.
• White – for beach decor, always use Ultra, Pure White, do not use colors like off-white or eggshell or similar. You want to achieve pure freshness, and off-white or other “non-white” colors just can’t provide it.
• Very effective when painting the walls is to use a white trim on any colored walls.

For beach decor window coverings, use sheer curtains out of fine fabric to give your room a breezy and windswept ambiente, especially when you open your windows to a light breeze. Stick to the same colors as with your walls.

How about plants? Yes, do use them, but do not go overboard. One or two nice green plants will make any room feel more homely and lived in. For beach decor, I recommend using different wild grass arrangements (think about dunes), even dried creations, but you could also use one or two palm trees. Be careful, though – if you do too much “greenery”, you will more likely end up with a tropical themed room. Too many plants will again take away from the spaciousness you are trying to achieve.

As with other beach decor accents, you can’t go wrong if you keep it simple. Here are a few tips:

• Pictures – make sure your pictures have something to do with the theme “beach”, and have all the picture frames in the same color – it will unify the room and look stunning. Use the same color here as your trim – preferably white!
• Figurines – use only a few selected beach and ocean animals, and place them in strategic spots. If you have too many already and don’t want to part with them, display them all in a special spot dedicated to do just that (display cabinet, shelf).
• Seashells – an absolute must in your beach decor. They will look best if displayed in glass vases or acrylic jars. Collect some smaller ones yourself (if you live near a beach) and put some sand in a nice glass bowl and the shells on top, – perfect!

Hopefully I have inspired you a little to transform your home with beach decor. It can be a lot of fun, and the best part is to see the end result after all the hard work is done!

Petra W., German, living in Australia, is a big fan of the beach and everything related to it. She has created a website centered around Beach Theme Home Decor to help anybody with the same interests in their quest to finding the right home decor centered around the general theme “beach”- http://www.mybeachdecor.com

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Originating in France in the 18th century, the French provincial style emerged from the styles that were popular in Paris at the time; however, it is less ornate and features simply carved pieces of furniture with few decorations. This is probably the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear ‘French provincial’ and ‘furniture style’ in the same sentence. However, the term is much more comprehensive and spans over a longer period of time, bringing together a wide range of trends which combined in different ways in different parts of the country to create what today stands for one of the most desired furniture styles in the world by those who are fond of the simplicity and elegance that the French created several centuries ago in their lovely country.

The characteristics of the French provincial furniture can be summed up in the use of different kinds of solid wood, depending on the region (oak, walnut, elm, apple, pear, cherry and sometimes mahogany). The simple design and carved decorations that these long-lasting pieces of furniture were endowed with contrasted with the intricacy of the Parisian style, making them more suitable for the simple homes and daily life of the farmers, hence the less polished finishes and the more functional meaning of the design.

The discreet ornamentations peculiar to the French provincial furniture style had a lot to do with the daily life of the rural family. You can notice several symbols engraved on these pieces, according to which part of life was more representative for the family. Shells stood for fertility, while flowers and fruit symbolized divine grace. Prosperity was represented by wheat, grapes or coins, while the artistic endeavours were indicated by the presence of musical instruments. Let us not forget about love, which appeared in the shape of a heart, a dove or an arrow.

For esthetical purposes, many contemporary house owners have chosen to return to the natural materials that furniture has been made of for many centuries and decorate at least part of their homes with French provincial items of furniture and objects. They are quite in fashion and will bring a special kind of elegance to any room. Just as a few centuries ago there lived dedicated craftsmen who built high quality French provincial furniture, there are now designers and manufacturers of provincial style furniture in many parts of the world. They are in charge of bringing the special French country air into the modern home and will do a very good job too.

Discover the French Provincial Style best interior decorating practices. Visit our Aspley store for inspiration and ideas about making your home looking like French and country at the minimal effort!

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Rustic country decor and how to decorate cottage style homes are extensions of American country style decorating. In addition, traditions are borrowed from French, English and some Swedish country looks. Rustic country decor can be defined as coarse, charmingly simple, unfussy, unfinished and yet with endearing qualities. Rustic country decorating includes the use of natural woods, aged surfaces, rough finishes and simple lines. Cottage style homes are comfortable, modest, quaint homes that can be made of thick stone or log wood.

Floors in rustic country decor and cottage style homes are made with stone or wood materials. Wooden floors were traditionally constructed with boards that were bare and simply waxed and hand-polished (high-gloss varnishes did not exist). Sometimes the boards were painted with light colors. If you like floor coverings, use oriental rugs and throws for visual warmth and color. Rustic country decor is about handcrafted objects, simplicity, furnishings that you enjoy and connecting back to nature.

Rustic cottage furniture is commonly made with pine and perhaps painted with hand-painted designs such as flowers, birds, animals, country scenery or leaves. Use ladderback chairs, rocking chairs, benches, wicker furniture and Windsor chairs. A large rectangular table made of pine is a good option for your kitchen or dining room table. To give your furniture a rustic look, brush a coat of paint on the furniture piece, then rub most of the paint off. After it dries, apply wood stain unevenly for an older weathered appearance. It will be perfect and rustic looking!

Baskets can be used to store wood, pine cones, flowers, plants and needlework. Brass candle holders, oil or kerosene lamps, sconces, hurricane lamps, tin lanterns, recessed ceiling fixtures or a vintage wrought-iron or metal chandelier provide successful lighting for rustic country decor and cottage style homes. Colors used in rustic country decor or cottage style homes are neutral tones ranging from white to bone, earth tones, red barn, blues and greens.

For rustic country decor in the kitchen, use open shelves, hutches, buffets, plate racks and cupboards for storage. Often, country kitchen storage is crammed with stoneware pots, plain glazed earthenware and glass jars. Kitchen pots should be made of copper, steel or cast iron — cookware tends to be large and plain. Use open shelving in the rustic country kitchen to display plates, dishes and dinnerware collections. Natural woods, light colors and bright fabrics work great for window treatments. Adding a rustic butcher block island creates a wonderful visual effect as well as provides useful functionality.

A rustic country decor bathroom has neutral tones or soft colored walls, antique-looking lighting, and wooden antiques or antique reproduction cabinets and vanity. Knowing how to decorate cottage style homes and bathrooms can result in creating a calm and elegant atmosphere. Clawfoot tubs, pedestal sinks, country style antique brass faucets and old-fashioned country cabinets provide the kind of atmosphere that makes you want to spend time there. Plain white towels are recommended instead of patterned or bright modern patterns. Use wicker or wire baskets to keep your sponges, loofas and shampoos handy near the tub or shower.

Understanding how to decorate cottage style homes means including items like quilts, antique furniture or reproductions, flea-market pieces, trunks, chests, armoires, stenciling, wallpaper, adirondack chairs, flower wreaths and bistro chairs. These types of elements give cottage style homes the kind of rustic country decor that is simpler, very personal and warmly inviting.

Whether in a seaside setting, an urban environment, a countryside location or a wooded mountain retreat, cottage style homes are cozy and unassuming, combining the past with the present. Read all you can find and learn what creating the rustic country cottage means to you no matter where it’s located. Enjoy expressing your personality and showing what the definition of home means to you.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

David Buster is VP of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com – visit the website and learn more about rustic country home decor and design, rustic kitchens and bathrooms, log cabins, fireplaces and firewood and much more.

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Bright garden room

A garden room in an Edwardian house is updated with summery colours, bold pattern and a mix of modern furniture and antiques. Patterns and stripes in shades of peony pink and zesty lime green, accented with jewel colours, create a fresh, lively mood.

Glazed cabinets and painted armoires provide places to store tableware for both indoor and outdoor entertaining. Line shelves with wallpaper or an oilcloth fabric. Architectural detailing, such as stained-glass windows, can be highlighted by vibrant colour schemes to create a more contemporary look.

Monochrome garden room

Contemporary architecture dictates chic black and white for this open-plan living space, which leads on to a streamlined terrace. Oversized accessories, such as the vase on the coffee table, add impact. Graphic designs make a statement; this coffee table is a perfect example.

Layer texture in a contemporary scheme for interest: a loop-pile rug in a bright colour over sleek rubber flooring, and a mix of gloss and matt accessories will all add depth. Use table and floor lamps around the room to create pools of light, with recessed spots for task lighting

Simple gardenroom

Shades of blue and black teamed with furniture and accessories in natural, tactile materials create a laid-back feel for this retreat. A palette of blue and white is enhanced by light pieces of furniture, such as the wooden desk chair.

Furniture and accessories in a variety of woods and woven natural materials, give the scheme warmth and depth while creating a calming, rustic feel. Keep blankets and throws close at hand for keeping warm on summer evenings, using storm lanterns to create atmospheric lighting.

You can find more information on interior design and interior design ideas at house to home, helping you create a look you’ll love

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I was invited to view some unique nautical decor in a home that an associate of mine had just completed. I knew from past experience and knowledge of this decorator’s style that this was not going to be your average, run of the mill set of sailboat bedding with a color scheme in blue and white for a boy and I was not disappointed.

From first glance it was obvious that there were very few new or store bought decorative accessories in the room. The furniture seemed to have been relocated from a Cape Cod cabin after many years of casual use and adapted for use in this child’s bedroom. The once white or off white paint on the dresser and armoire was distressed and had long since lost any shine or patina. The term shabby chic falls short when used to describe this eclectic collection of wooden furniture. The pieces were clean and were perfectly appropriate for nautical décor designed for a boy or girl.

The centerpiece of the bedroom, the nautical bedding, was a faded, patchwork quilt that looked to have been pieced from scraps salvaged from vintage clothing picked up at a thrift store. The cotton clothing apparently was washed, cut into triangles and stars and then sewn together to complete not only the quilt but a set of matching quilted pillow shams.

The window treatments and the bed skirt put the finishing touch on the vintage nautical decor. The nautical curtains and valances as well as the tailored dust ruffle were made from yards of weathered canvas retrieved from discarded sailcloth that had been removed from a sailboat. The canvas had been fitted with large, brass eyelets with an aged finish to accommodate the tarnished brass cafe curtain rods. No efforts had been made to exclude the frayed spots or the water stained areas of the cloth that had been salvaged from the sails. The fabric was soft and pliable enough to be stitched and pleated in a fashion that blended beautifully with the crisp tailored decorations seen in the rest of the nautical decor.

Without a doubt, this nautical decorating project was a demonstration of an extremely successful recycling effort of the first water. After outliving their usefulness on a sailboat, these sails would have been tossed in the trash only to take up space in a landfill without a second thought. However, my creative friend saw the opportunity to use them as decorations to complete a bedroom filled with vintage nautical nursery decor that was as affordable as it was visually pleasing.

Let this be a decorating tip for those planning a home that features a nautical style of decor. Hit the docks and see if there are any sailboats that are being outfitted with new sails. You will be first in line to get yards and yards of free, heavy duty fabric that could be used to upholster furniture cushions, make throw pillows or create any number of decorative accessories.

Jan Bay is webmaster of a site devoted to sharing BABY NURSERY IDEAS through the many articles on nursery design and reviews of modern baby equipment and accessories.

Use of this article requires an active link to NAUTICAL DECOR NURSERY

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To give your Oriental decorating style that finished feeling, you must purchase the perfect decorative items. For the sense of the Orient, you should use exotic and colorful items which provide an orient influenced appeal. Adding accessories like pillows, knick knacks and wall art can help compliment your Oriental style design.

Wall art is a good way to add unique interest to your walls, but most people don’t know the right way to hang them. Single works of art should be arranged so the center of the piece is at eye level, not so that the tops or bottoms of the frames are positioned in a line as a lot of individuals think. When displaying a collection of paintings, photos or prints, try coming up with the layout on the floor to get it looking the best before you start making holes in the wall. Placing Oriental silk embroidery in lacquered frames will work well to add zip to the Oriental decorating style.

Some items that can help add to the allure of the Orient include Oriental room dividers, potted plants, and a waterfall bowl. You ought to choose accessories that match with your overall room style. Deploy on theme items purely in order to get the appearance you are working hard for.

Decorative pillows can give a sense of a soft touch to your room design. They’re fun to obtain and you can use them in any room. If you can’t afford new furniture for your family room or living room, decorative pillows will help give the Oriental decor look to your old pieces. Pillows can add softness to the kitchen or bath – look at placing one on the hamper or on a kitchen chair in a corner. Putting decorative pillows arranged at the headboard of your bed is sure to provide an interesting professional ambiance. Add comfort and style to your room décor with pillows that have watercolor on silk.

Finding the perfect knick knacks to add appeal to your room design can be fun plus help give the room a professional look. To benefit your Oriental decor, make sure you buy items which have an exotic and colorful ambiance. Arranging Imari vases with a single flower or having a lotus blossom in a flower bowl. Take the time to pick out unique pieces that really display your personality. If you lack a lot of money, think about shopping at yard sales and flea markets for fantastic unique knick knacks.

Making use of oriental folding screens and lacquered items can add charm and interest to your Oriental decorating style. But before you go out and shop for a variety of things, you would be smart to have an idea of what styles of items you would like and shop for those pieces. You want to make sure also to purchase items in the correct sizes plus proportions. If you stick with these rules, you’ll be able to decorate your room design with accessories that go perfect with each other.