Decorating Tips for the Holiday Season

The festive season is here. Stay on top of the holiday rush and start redecorating your home if you haven’t done it yet.

Home Decorating Made Easy

If you’re seriously interested in knowing about home decorating, you need to think beyond the basics. This informative article takes a closer look at things you need to know about home decorating.

Most Americans are spending a fortune decorating their homes for Christmas, Easter, and Thanksgiving when they can follow these simple tips and do it for less. Home improvement projects can be budgeted and planned. A person can feel and see if his house needs remodeling and renovation. He may plan and work on his own improvement project as long he is capable and skillful enough to do the work.

There are easy tasks and repairs that require a minimum of time and skill. To save more money and avoid purchasing new materials which are not needed avoid hiring a contractor if possible.

Here are some factors to consider when doing your own the home decorating.

1. Consider the free time available for decorating and styling the interior of the house. Save money by doing the repairs and renovations yourself. Home improvement projects can be time consuming especially if your skills are limited.

2. Before going to the market or appliance center, identify your priorities for decorating the house. Visiting websites and browsing through home improvement magazines that highlight great living rooms, kitchens, dining rooms, etc. can give a home owner an idea about different themes. Home owners can also opt to buy cheaper alternatives for home decorations by buying items that are on sale or pre-owned.

Truthfully, the only difference between you and home decorating experts is time. If you’ll invest a little more time in reading, you’ll be that much nearer to expert status when it comes to home decorating.

3. Purchase inexpensive tools and materials needed for home improvement and decoration. Estimate the expenses that will be incurred by the remodeling and decoration of the home. It is important to use a budget so that you have an idea of how much money will be needed and spent for the remodeling.

4. Assess your skills in styling and decorating before starting the project: if the task requires a high level of artistry that you do not possess the end result may not be the one you desired and you may spend even more money to correct the work.

5. If the last option is to hire a professional interior designer, determine his background and work experience before hiring. Consider designers who are referred by a friend or by your neighbors. You can ask for discounts and/or alternative materials to be used that are within your budget.

6. Consider the size of the house before buying furniture. Rearranging the furniture can be the cheapest way to decorate your home. Instead of buying a sofa, consider buying two loveseats especially if space is limited.

7. Determine the specific areas where repairs are needed: repairs can range from leaking pipes, clogged drains, to minor carpentry repairs. These repairs are easily done and can be fixed without hiring technicians, plumbers, or carpenters that may charge large fees. When decorating the home, it is not necessary to do all the parts of the house. Most people focus on the living room, kitchen, and dining room. In decorating the kitchen, buying refrigerator magnets, hand towels, or dishcloths at a discount is easy. Buying wholesale, when possible, will give the buyer huge discounts in comparison to buying in retail stores.

Everyone loves a nice appearing home because it reflects the personality of the homeowner. Going home at the end of long working day is worth looking forward to if the home is pleasant and orderly.

Don’t limit yourself by refusing to learn the details about home decorating. The more you know, the easier it will be to focus on what’s important.

Make a Grand Entrance to Your Home with a Colorful Front Door

Make a grand entrance: simple ideas to refresh your entryway

(BPT) - Most people enter their home through the garage or backdoor, forgetting how the front entrance looks to neighbors and guests. Your front door is often the first thing others notice about your home. That’s why it’s key to make a positive first impression.

How to create an inviting entrance

Transform your home’s curb appeal with a new front door. With so many new entry door systems to choose from, ranging from single doors, to double-door options, to those accented with decorative glass, or transoms and sidelights, it’s easy to find one that fits your budget and your style. Pella offers stylish wood, fiberglass or steel options. Choose from ENERGY STAR-qualified design options to create a distinctive look, whether you’re building a new home, remodeling, or simply replacing an old door.

Pick a standout color for your front door

Sticking with your door? A fresh coat of paint will do wonders. Try a bold color to brighten a neutral color scheme. Pick a color that coordinates with your home’s exterior, but dare to be bold with color contrast to add eye appeal.

Update your hardware

Why stop with a fresh coat of paint? Refresh old doors with new hardware. Choose handles and door knockers that complement your home’s exterior design. Pella offers hardware in a variety of finishes, to instantly upgrade exterior doors.

Replace broken or damaged items

Replace broken light fixtures, burned out bulbs and worn out weather-stripping on exterior doors. Pitch that faded wreath, worn out mat, and dead plants, and instead, add a bright new welcome mat and eye-catching seasonal decorations.

Clean up, accent with contrast

Use a little elbow grease and ammonia-free, vinegar-based glass cleaner to wash the windows. Wipe down window and door frames and sweep sills with a dry paint brush or vacuum to remove dirt. See pella.com/news for tips on cleaning windows and doors.

Fill flower boxes or containers with boldly-colored plants to accent your front door. If you’ve painted your door red, plant red and white or red and purple flowers to create a designer look. Or if you’re keen on green doors, try purple or orange flowers for contrast.

Illuminate your walkway

Make it easy for others to see the way to your front door at night. Transform and illuminate walkways with easy-to-install solar lights. Stake them in the ground positioned so solar cells get enough southern exposure for sunlight to recharge nightlights during the day.

Trim bushes, create great container gardens

Landscaping should accent your home, not dominate it. Keep bushes below the bottom sill of your windows to improve your view. Trim or replace overgrown shrubs and trees. Keep plant material trimmed several feet away from your home to minimize damage from wind or insects, and help eliminate a place for prowlers to lurk. Keep your porch and steps clear of clutter and create container gardens to accent your entry. Fill decorative containers with plants that accent your home’s color scheme, front door and landscape design.

Visit Pella Windows and Doors on Pinterest and Houzz for more design inspiration and Pella.com/news to connect with your local Pella representative for ideas on how to transform the look and comfort of your home inside and out.