Budget Style

A house is just a building. A home is what you make it with your own personal touches. Making a house into a home involves infusing the house with your own unique sense of style, making it personal, and creating a relaxing, comfortable atmosphere.

Infusing a house with your own unique sense of style includes everything from the colors you choose to the type of furniture and other decor items you use. Even the artwork on the walls should be carefully selected to say something about who you are as an individual. Remember, even if you're renting, you live there. It is your home and it should reflect your own style. If you own the home you can, of course, do whatever you want. If you are renting you might have to work withing some constraints, but most people will allow you some freedom, especially if after you've rented from them for a while. Making it personal involves adding touches like... READ THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE

While many of the same principals of child-proofing the rest of your home also apply to the kitchen, there are some special considerations because of the nature of the room and the types of things that are kept there. Some extra precautions need to be taken to keep children safe from harmful chemicals and other hazards unique to the kitchen.

In the kitchen, as in all rooms, you need to start by assessing potential hazards from your child's point of view. This means crawling along the floor and looking for things that will attract your child's attention such as electrical outlets. Children are notorious for finding metal objects to insert into these fascinating contraptions, sometimes with deadly results. You need to go to your hardware or home store and invest in some inexpensive but invaluable outlet plugs. These are plastic covers with prongs that are inserted into unused electrical outlets. They are very difficult for small fingers to remove as they fit flush to the electrical outlet and greatly minimize the risk of something other than an electrical appliance being inserted into the outlet.

Next, you'll want to take a look at cabinets and drawers your child can reach and potentially open. A majority of people keep cleaning supplies and other household chemicals in cabinets close to the floor, usually under the sink. It's best to move these to higher cabinets that the child cannot access. All cabinets and drawers your child can reach should have child safety locks, which are devices that allow you to open the cabinet or drawer with a couple extra steps, but make it more difficult for your child to get into.

Spend a moment considering your electrical appliances like toasters and coffee makers. You probably feel pretty safe and secure since they're on counter tops your child can't reach. Think again. If the child can reach the electrical cord of that coffee maker, he can also pull it down onto himself. Make sure all cords are out of the child's reach and that the items are pushed back away from the counter since older children will figure out how to push a chair over to your counter top and climb up to explore what's up there.

Speaking of what's on the counter tops, make sure there are no knives or other sharp objects your child can get hold of. The nice knife set in the butcher block holder needs to be put away safety until your child is old enough to teach the dangers of sharp things. Children have a way of turning just about anything they can
get their hands on into a dangerous weapon, so look for things you might not even consider especially dangerous like wooden spoon and other long, hard objects. Just about anything that will fit into a hand could potentially go into an eye, so it's best to have anything with even the remote potential for danger in a secured cabinet or drawer.

Ovens and stoves present their own risks where children are concerned. If possible, try to secure the oven door so that children cannot open it. Explore some way to keep your child from being able to turn on the oven or stove. When you're cooking, simply never turn your back on your child since a hot oven or stove is, for whatever reason, like a child magnet. Always keep handles of pots and pants turned inward, out of the child's reach and, as soon as the child is old enough to understand, explain the concept of "hot."

Once you've secured everything you can think of to secure and gone over the kitchen again, do not think for a moment that you can sit back and relax. Children will inevitably find the one thing that you have missed as a possible source of danger. This is why, with even the best of planning and no matter how many precautions you have taken, you have to be vigilant and tireless in watching over small children in every room of the house.

There are numerous ways to control the scent of your home, most of which can be achieved very inexpensively and easily. The basics are identifying and removing sources of odor, introducing new scents, and eliminating odors.

The first thing one should do when trying to control the scent of their home is to identify the source of any bad smells. Most often these have to do with dampness, so it's best to start looking in the bathroom and kitchen. Dirty dishes in the sink will produce a foul smell that be easily removed by keeping dishes washed and put away promptly after use. In the bathroom, keep damp towels off the floor and on racks where they have a chance to dry. It's also a good idea not to put anything wet into the dirty clothes hamper since you'll wind up with a musty smell very quickly with wet things in such a confined space. Empty garbage and trash cans often to eliminate this common source of odors.

Introducing new scents to the home is quick and easy using a variety of methods. The easiest is the use of scented candles. Always exercise caution with candles. Be sure you keep the flame far from any flammable materials and never leave a burning candle unattended. If you have small children or pets, candles might not be a good option. Instead, you could choose scented potpourri, products that plug into electrical outlets and release scent, essential oils and room sprays. Another option, if you have air vents in your home or apartment, is to use your favorite dryer sheets to scent your whole home. Simply put a dryer sheet or two into the air intake (where your heating or cooling unit pulls air in). You'll find that the fresh, clean scent is circulated quickly throughout your entire home.

There are a variety of options available to eliminate odors which usually also introduce a new scent into your home at the same time. Look for room sprays that specifically say that they neutralize odors. Some sprays only mask the odors and do nothing to remove them. This might leave you with the smell of mold and roses, which isn't a particularly appealing combination. I am loathe to mention specific products for fear it may seem like an endorsement, but Febreeze is a great odor neutralizer. There are many other products on the market that achieve similar results, so shop around for lower cost options.

Another fantastic option to eliminate odors while introducing scent to your home are effusion lampes. These are usually glass and look like large perfume bottles with ornate metal tops. You pour a special type of oil into the effusion lampe, let it soak into the wick that is attached to a stone, and then you light the stone and let it burn for a couple minutes. You then blow out the flame and place the decorative cap over the stone. The wick pulls the scented oil up into the heated stone and disperses the scent throughout your home. The literature I've seen for effusion lampes claims that they remove bacteria from the air, but I can't swear to that. I do know that they are the most effective means of removing odors from your home that I have ever seen and the scent lasts for days after you burn them.

The only drawbacks to effusion lampes are that they are a little pricey. The lampes themselves can be found online from specialty suppliers or usually at your favorite florist or upscale home decor store. They usually range from thirty to fifty dollars each for a basic one (which serves the purpose just fine) and upwards of a hundred dollars for fancier versions. The oils last quite a while, but they're usually about fifteen dollars or more per bottle. However, if you have serious odor problems or just want the best smelling house on the block, these are definitely the way to go.

Whatever your price range, you can find something to suit your needs. It begins, of course, with removing sources of bad smells. After that, light a candle, spray the room or splurge on an effusion lampe. Whatever option you choose you'll have a fresher, cleaner smelling house and your nose will thank you.

This simple do-it-yourself project can transform your bedroom with a luxurious look without spending much money or time. Padding your headboard is one of the simplest things you can do for maximum visual impact.

Start by removing your current headboard from the bed. A simple foam mattress pad is the trick to saving money and time with this project. Try to get one that isn't the eggshell type for best results. Lay the mattress pad on the floor and lay the headboard on top of it. Using a black magic marker, trace around the headboard.

Once you have the shape drawn, cut it out of the mattress pad. You'll want to cut about an inch inside the line to make the piece of foam you're cutting out a little smaller than the headboard itself.

Attach the piece of foam to the front of the headboard with a small amount of double sided tape or hot glue in each corner. It doesn't have to be held firmly in place by the glue, just enough to make it easy to work with. The fabric you put over it will keep it in place later.

If you change your bedding and bedroom decor often, you'll probably want to go with a neutral color fabric. If you want an instant designer look and you have a favorite comforter or bedspread that you use often, coordinate or match that fabric. Just make sure whatever fabric you choose is fairly heavy and will be able to be spot cleaned.

Lay your fabric on the floor and use the same process you used with the foam of tracing the outline with a marker. When you cut the fabric, cut to about at least six inches outside the line to allow enough fabric to pull around the headboard and attach to the back.

The quickest, easiest way to attach the fabric is with a staple gun. Simply lay the fabric over the headboard and foam, line it up properly and then stand the headboard up. Start from the top middle and pull the fabric to the back of the headboard and staple in place. Next, turn the headboard over, firmly pull the bottom middle of the fabric to the back and staple into place.

Work from the middle out, being sure to keep the fabric pulled tight and avoid wrinkles. Corners and curves can be a little tricky and you may have to tuck some of the fabric under the way you do Christmas paper on a package.

For an extra fancy touch, still on a shoestring budget, visit your local hardware or home decor store and get several of the decorative tacks often used to secure curtain tie-backs. These are often brass and are basically short nails with a decorative head. Tap them lightly into the headboard, evenly spaced in rows or any pattern you choose. It will give your headboard an expensive button-back look. Voila! A fabric padded headboard straight out of an elegant designer bedroom.

The best rule of thumb in choosing interior design color combinations is to go with what you like rather than what anyone tells you you should choose. Start by thinking of your favorite color. Even if you don't choose to design around that color, it will at least give you a good starting point.

For example, my favorite color is purple, but I know that an entire room done in shades of purple would probably make me a little ill. Plus, I like strong, vibrant purples but cannot stand lighter shades of lavender, so I've never decorated a room entirely in shades of purple.

What I have done in the past is to start with a shade of purple that I do like and decorate around it by adding complimentary or coordinating colors. Don't bother with the color wheels and rule books on style unless you're color blind. Take a trip your local paint store and go crazy with the paint samples. You'll actually probably be pretty amazed at what colors look good together that you'd never imagined combining.

Something else to keep in mind is to keep it simple. Don't try to put more than about three colors together in the same room unless you're an expert at mixing and matching. Most people can safely handle trying to balance three colors. With more than that you risk making a visual mess and creating a look that is anything but put together. You can get the variety you crave even within the limited color palette by mixing different shades of each color and mixing and matching different textures and prints in the fabrics you choose.

Another important consideration when choosing colors for interior design are the effects colors have on people. Yes, it's true that color can effect our mood and our emotions, even our appetites. You've probably noticed that many fast-food restaurants use a lot of red in their advertising, packaging and even in the decor of their restaurants. That's because it is a proven fact that the color red triggers something in our brains that increases our appetites. Other colors have other effects. Have you ever wondered why almost every hospital waiting room is the weird shade of blue? That's because shades of blue are supposed to be calming, soothing colors. So, while you might just be wild about red, it might be a good idea to reserve it for use in the kitchen or dining room instead of the bedroom. A red bedroom would probably be very pretty, but don't plan on getting much sleeping done in it.

The bottom line is to do what makes you happy and comfortable in your own home. Ignore the home decor magazines, the so-called experts and even this article if you want. If the colors in your home are pleasing to you and make you feel like you're in a comfortable, relaxed environment, that's all that truly matters. Enjoy!

Safety, compliance with regulations, and space are the three major things to keep in mind when decorating a dorm room. Beyond that, it's a matter of making sure you have what you need and what will make you comfortable, especially if you're going to be away from home for the first time.

Safety considerations usually involve electrical appliances. Most colleges prohibit the use of hot plates, those mini stove burners, because of fire hazards. Some will allow microwaves, but others strictly forbid cooking of any kind in dorm rooms. Check these things out before you run out and shell out cash for a microwave or other cooking appliances. You might discover that there is a common cooking area available that you can use, saving you from having to buy any of those items.

Another thing to be cautious about in dorm rooms is the use of too many electrical items of any kind. You definitely want to avoid overloading electrical outlets as this can also pose a fire hazard. Make sure you have properly grounded extension cords and use a good quality surge protector if you're taking along your personal computer. If you're in doubt about how much is too much to plug in, ask your Resident Adviser or someone else in charge at your dorm.

Compliance with regulations is a major concern with decorating dorm rooms. I remember in my particular college we were allowed to paint our dorm rooms. We were all extremely excited until we were presented with the approved list of colors. We had about 15 shades of white to choose from. If we painted the walls with any color not on that list, we would be charged a substantial fee to have the room repainted at the end of the year. To avoid fees or disciplinary action, always check before painting to see what restrictions, if any, there are on color choice.

Get a good overview of the regulations on decorating your dorm room before you begin purchasing your decor items if possible. Usually you will be given this information during one of your early visits to campus or during orientation. If you aren't given the information, ask for it. Also, ask to see the dorm rooms. Getting a good idea of what they look like and what's already there will let you know what you do and don't need to bring along. Most dorm rooms have built-in desks and shelving as well as a bed. That's usually about it, but that's often about all there's room for as well.

That brings us to the question of space. After you've seen the dorm room you'll have a much better idea of what you may or may not be able to fit into it. Don't expect a luxury penthouse suite as most college dorms, even expensive private colleges, simply don't have the space for those. You'll more than likely find that you have just enough space for the essentials and not a lot of room for decorative items.

Don't let that stop you, however, from making the space your own. There are ways other than painting the walls lime green and bringing all your furniture from home to express your own personal style. Consider adding splashes of color with a bright comforter and bedding. Hang a few of your favorite pictures or posters. Most dorm rooms have that ugly institutional tile flooring. Consider picking up a patterned area rug to brighten the place up a little.

You'll also want to personalize your space. Bring along some family pictures because you are going to miss those people from time to time. Bring small things from home that remind you of where you came from. These will help to ease the inevitable homesickness as you begin an exciting new chapter in your life. Most of all, make yourself at home as much as possible and enjoy!

Do not shell out the big bucks for one of those designer looking lamps with the fancy crystal beading. There's no reason to when all you need is a plain, inexpensive lamp, a hot glue gun and about a buck. That's right; you can get the look with a simple ten minute do-it-yourself project.

Start with a basic lamp you pick up at a discount or even a second-hand store. Simply use a measuring tape to measure the bottom opening of the lamp and then head to your favorite craft or fabric store and purchase an appropriate length of ribbon with the beading already sewn on. Then, fire up your hot glue gun and attach the ribbon to the inside of the lamp shade. Voila! Designer look, budget price.

The obvious advantage to this project is that you've just saved a bundle of money over purchasing one of those expensive designer lamps. Doing it yourself also allows you the opportunity to make your creation correspond perfectly to your own decor. Pick out the color, size and style of beading that will blend best in your home. Plus, if you ever get tired of the look, the beading is simple and quick to remove since it's attached with hot glue instead of being sewn into the lamp shade.

Easy, quick, stylish savings!