Kathy Zengolewicz

Hang a quilt on the wall behind your headboard. It’s a simple step that looks great. You don’t have to match the quilt with your bedspread, but do keep the same color scheme.

Mix and match some pillows to brighten up the room. Your décor should express your personality so find a favorite print and use a dollar store picture frame and you have instant art for your bedroom walls.

Not a print kind of person? Take pictures of your children or other loved ones, yes that does include you pets, and frame those photos. Make a collage of those pics. I like that kind of art!

Redecorate or replace your lampshades to correspond with your new décor, or better yet, install wall lamps. That will keep some of the clutter off of your bedside or night table.

Change the position of your bed. Placing your bed on an angle, where the corner of the room is in the middle of your headboard, that gives a unique semblance to the room.

If you’re a snuggler, top your bed with a soft down comforter. If you just want to inject some color into the room do it with a few accessories like a new lampshade or knick knacks.

You can add a homey look to your space by draping your quilt or comforter over the headboard or footboard using your bed as a quilt stand.

So, you see there are many easy and inexpensive ways to change a room using your imagination. Have fun trying some of these suggestions.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

sxc.hu

Don’t be stressed out at the thought of hosting family or friends overnight. I have a few tips to help you make your guests feel right at home.

Make sure to air out your guestroom a few days before. When I say air out I mean just that. Open the windows slightly to let the fresh air circulate in the room. You don’t have to leave it open all day, just about an hour and close the bedroom door so that there won’t be a draft in the remainder of the house.

Make up the bed with fresh linens. Put a medium sized basket in the room with a few essentials. You don’t need anything fancy just some toothpaste, new toothbrushes, soap, hand and body lotion, shampoo and conditioner. Leave a couple bottles of water, with drinking glasses, on the bedside or night table. You never know when you may need it and I’m sure your guests do not want to be roaming you home in the middle of the night to find water.

Also, place clean towels and wash clothes for each guest in the room. It’s nice to leave a book or magazine there, too in case they’re a little restless and can’t sleep. Some people sleep poorly when they’re not in their own bed.

Another great idea is to put some fresh flowers on a table or bureau. It adds a nice touch and is relatively inexpensive. Making your guests feel comfortable, whether they are family or friends, will help to make their visit more memorable.

Take care. I’ll talk to you soon!

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Better Homes & Gardens always has great do-it-yourself projects and home improvement ideas.  BHG has step by step instructions on how to upholster a headboard.

To make this headboard you’ll need plywood, foam, and about 7 yards of fabric.  Check out BHG’s step by step instructions.

image from Better Homes & Gardens

Post from: Keeping the Castle

To be honest, I had no idea that so much would be involved with getting rid of most of the dust in a bedroom, especially if you suffer from asthma. Luckily for me I don’t, but just reading about what makes up dust, just gave me the willies. As I’m typing this, I’m feeling just a wee bit queazie, but the thought of breathing in mold, fibers, and tiny dust mites, is just plain horrible. Have you seen what a dust mite looks like when magnified. It’s almost enough to send me out in the yard to sleep… which isn’t an easy things to do when there’s an inch or so of snow on the ground. But, this morning, I think that I will definitely be doing a few of the things on the list.

1. Remove all traces of dust that you can see

2. Clean out the closet

3. Wipe down all of the baseboards

4. Clean the window blinds

5. Take down the light fixture and give it a good washing

6. Vacuum the mattress

Obviously, there are more things that could be done, but they will all go on my list of things to do. The list above is a good start and one that I can do on a weekly/monthly basis.

Source

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Photo Credit: Bloomingdales

Post from: Keeping the Castle

There are secrets that interior designers employ in decorating any bedroom. Are there no-fail guidelines in creating that perfect haven?

I think if you follow these do’s and don’ts provided by the experts at Calico Corners, you’ll be well on your way to the perfect bedroom.

Do’s

* Use soft fabrics and textures on your bed.

* Make your bed the focal point, either by its frame or through the fabrics you use on it. Make it stand out from the walls by employing contrasting colors.

* Add window treatments that complement the bed.

* Use different hues of the same color, if you prefer a monochromatic decor.

* Hide the TV if you have it in your room.

* Use pretty covered containers to hide clutter.

* Install different levels of lighting (eg., lamps and dimmers) in the bedroom.

* Change the look of your bed over the year.

Don’ts

* Don’t overwhelm your bed with pillows. Pick 4-5 beautiful utility and decorative pillows.

* Don’t use your bedroom as your office.

* Don’t overflow your nightstands with clutter.

via PRWeb; Creative Commons image by jinkazamah on Flickr

Post from: Keeping the Castle

Post from: Keeping the Castle

* Fluff pillows regularly to help them maintain their shape.

* In addition to pillow cases, use zippered pillow protectors to reduce allergies and help protect the pillow. Place the zippered end into the pillowcase first. Wash pillow protectors once a month.

* Most pillows can be washed in the washing machine. Read the care label for manufacturer’s instructions. Clean pillows every 3-6 months.

* Every time you purchase a pillow, use a Sharpie pen to write the month and year of purchase on the label.

* Depending on its quality and amount of use, a pillow’s life can be anywhere from 2 to 20 years (source). However, the older a pillow gets, the more allergens it contains. For a two-year old pillow, as much as 10% of the weight could be dead mites and their droppings (source).

* A good rule is to replace a pillow that is flat, badly stained, or can’t be fluffed. Otherwise, replace pillows every 3-5 years.

via Martha Stewart; Land’s End

Post from: Keeping the Castle