Small Change, Big Impact: Entry

The first and sometimes only part of your home guests and neighbors see is the front entry. If you want to change the welcoming point of your home or just spruce it up, start by adding new potted plants to your porch. Large ferns, topiaries, and heavy leafed plants draw attention and add life to a dull entryway. These also look great in large urns or oversized pottery. Purchasing new, nicely finished house numbers can also add a personal touch and prove to be a worthy investment, especially when painted a vibrant red or bold black. Wreaths are an entryway piece that are easy to change and can be reflective of the season. They can be easily be made and spruced up with flowers, ribbon, and other small feathers, greenery, and decorations from your local craft store. Don’t forget the interior. Adding a bench, hooks for coats, or even a basket for mail can make your home seem more inviting.

Small Change, Big Impact: Paint

According to Southern Living Magazine, most decorators say that a fresh coat of paint is the quickest way to make over your home, but painting an entire room can take time and seem a little overwhelming. Try painting just the doors or even the molding for a quick update. Painting just one wall in a room a bright, vibrant color creates a great accent wall to match rugs, vases, pillows, and curtains that you may already have. Not only does this take less time and money, but it can also add a focal point to the room if you use an eye-catching color.

Small Change, Big Impact: Outdoors

Another small accent that can be added to an interiors space when decorating are branches, twigs, berries, and fresh flowers.   This trick is one of the easiest things you can do to freshen up your and the pieces can be found in your own yard. It’s an inexpensive, pleasant, and fun décor piece that accentuates vases, candles, and mantle exquisitely! Budding branches make for great decorative pieces in the spring time, or try spray-painting branches, berries and pine cones a metallic gold or silver and add t  glass bowls or centerpieces for a more high-end look. You can also frame pressed flowers and leaves for organic, chic-looking wall art.

Small Change, Big Impact: Frames

Small changes can have a large impact on interior décor. A simple, inexpensive way to liven up a blank wall in your home is to create a collage-type collection of framed prints from photos you already have of your kids, family, pets, or garden. These can be printed in sepia or black and white at home or ordered online. Frame these in various shapes of dark colored frames sporadically along the wall, marrying different sizes and colors if you wish. You can get creative by purchasing a random assortment of frames in different colors, or pair the photos with a matte for a more sophisticated, polished appeal!

Quilting Makes A Comeback

Quitling and quilted bedding are making a comeback within the realm of interior design, especially in the rooms of teenage girls! Numerous colors can be incorporated into one bedspread or pillow by simply patchworking pieces of fabric together. A trend in modern day quilting includes the use of bright, attractive, and modern printed fabrics pieced smoothly together.

Spring 2012 Colors

The Pantone Color Institute^® revealed their popular spring color and deamed the following to be prominent hues now throughout early summer: Bright and Sun Bleached Yellow paired with Dusty Oceanic Blue and Rich Purple that pops against Warm Terracotta and Citrus Orange. “Consumers look to spring for renewed energy, optimism and the promise of a brighter day,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of Pantone.  Cairo Yellow, Crescent Moon, Mountain Stream, Prism Lilac, Terra Cotta and Harem Orange are also noted to be some of spring’s hottest colors. 

Visit Pantone Color Institue Below for More!

http://www.pantone.com/pages/fcr.aspx?pg=20910&ca=4

Classic Southern Paint Colors

Southern Living magazine published an article about the south's seven most recognizable paint colors. Southern Living deemed these colors the winners because they are most closely associated with southern architecture and decorating styles used in the southern region of the United States. The seven colors deemed noticeably the south's most popular colors are Barn Red, Texas Leather, Charleston Green, Creole Pink, Williamsburg Blue, Haint Blue, and Antebellum White.

Visit their website below to view the entire selection based on southern style and panache. The link below will allow you to view the colors and give a breif explanation of their historical value to southern decor.
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/decorating/classic-paint-colors-00417000077685/

The Right To Use White

Crisp, clean, and pristine- white is the perfect color to use to accentuate accessories or to let a piece take center stage. People often stear clear of using white in their homes, fearing it will be easily be dirtied or make a space boring.White walls, ceilings, and trims create a blank canvas, allowing your furniture to stand out while the eye gravitates towards bright colors and warm textiles. Walls painted white recede, allowing the natural woods, paneling, and moldings to steal the show. Layer wood, ceramics, and other materials to keep the look of white paint from falling flat. Mix shades of white to create the illusion of depth in a space, and add shades of different colors to create a neutral color scheme.

Lamp Shade Trim

Looking for a quick and easy way to spruce up an old lamp shade? Add some sass, pizazz, and interest by using old remnants of various types of trim!  All you need is a glue gun! Tassel trims are great, while feathers, ribbons, and beadwork really make the shade pop. Cut the trim pieces to the same length as the shade's circumfrance. Then adhere the trim to the edge with small dabs of hot glue! The trim gives the shade an expensive look while costing you pennies!