Monthly Archives: June 2012

Houseplants are one of the best indoor accessories - not only do they add decoration to a room, but they improve the air quality and pump out oxygen for us to breathe. They come in all sorts of varieties and colors as well, so you can usually find plants that match your decor. There are even some types that are practically kill-proof for those of us who don't have green thumbs.

But how can you make sure that your houseplants are getting the right amount of light? First, you should research the plants you already have to find out what amount of light is required. If you're still looking for plants, choose ones that would thrive in the areas where you're thinking of placing them.

Plants that need a lot of light should be placed right next to a window that receives a lot of sun throughout the day. Plants that require moderate amounts can go near windows, but you may need blinds and shades to control the amount of light

After you've chosen the perfect discount blinds and curtains for your windows, you'll need to figure out if you want to tie back your curtains. Doing so can ensure that those stylish bamboo blinds are shown off and that the view outdoors is always visible, so why wouldn't you want to? Here are a few creative ideas that'll help spruce up your ties.

1. Customize regular hardware. Martha Stewart Living suggests buying plain curtain tie hardware, then dressing it up however you see fit by hot-gluing on items you may already have, like coasters, buttons, artificial flower rosettes or whatever else you think would look nice with your theme.

2. Use creative fabrics. Anything that can be tied or buckled would work to hold back your

Effectively illuminating a space requires a bit more finesse than just a lamp here and an overhead light there - especially in the kitchen. Without the proper light fixtures and placement, you'll have a harder time accomplishing everything that needs to get done, from prepping meals to cleaning to chatting with friends. Here's how you can master lighting design in your kitchen.

You'll need a mix of task, accent and general lighting, according to Better Homes and Gardens Magazine. Natural illumination falls under the general category, and the right kitchen blinds can ensure that plenty of light is let in during the day. Sheer fabrics or bamboo blinds are your best bet for achieving the most light.

In addition,

If you're a cat owner, you may know all too well how destructive those critters can get when it comes to your window treatments. Not only can they leave behind fur that's tough to get out of fabrics, but they might even shred your blinds and curtains with their claws. What's a feline lover to do?

For starters, consider buying cordless shades. Without a string to attract your cat's attention, these varieties won't tempt kitty to come closer, which could end up saving trailing window treatments as well. It may also help to make sure that your cat has other options nearby, like a tower or a scratching post.

If nothing seems to keep your furry friend away from the window coverings, you may need to take preventative measures. One option is to use double-sided tape on the areas of the curtains that your cat tends to favor. The sticky surface should be enough to repel him

While you can't exactly make your own kitchen blinds or cellular shades, there's no reason why you can't create a fabulous set of curtains for your kitchen. Making your own window treatments to decorate the room with is an inexpensive and easy way to transform the look of your space in as little as an hour or two. Here are a few ideas for curtains that you can whip up in no time - from materials you may already have!

Cafe curtains from napkins
Believe it or not, you can make pretty cafe curtains using table linens. Better Homes and Gardens Magazine suggests joining the edges with jean rivets for a no-sew approach, then get a rivet and grommet kit at a local craft

An all-white room may sound strange at first - no color at all might seem like a recipe for a boring design scheme. But if you're a fan of contemporary interior design, you've probably seen a number of modern rooms that relied solely on this clean, crisp color. Using white can be a lot more exciting than you think, but there are a few rules that should serve as guidelines. Here are the top four rules for designing with white.

1. Use more than one shade. If you've ever been to a paint store, you know how many variations of white there are. To keep your room from looking flat, you may want to choose a few different shades in the same warm or cool family. More than two tones will ensure that the variation looks intentional, not like a matching mistake.

2. Rely heavily on texture. Texture is important in any room, but it's absolutely crucial when you're using one color. Try out a mix of shiny, fuzzy, sleek, rough, lumpy and smooth surfaces to keep the eye engaged. For example,

Have you ever found yourself seated at the dining room table with a bunch of guests wishing there wasn't so much bright light in the room ruining the mood? Many houses are wired to provide homeowners with the option to switch lights on or off - nothing in between. But if you think softer light would flatter your décor and create a cozy ambiance, you'll need to install a dimmer switch. Before you start looking up the number for a local handyman, read on to discover how easy it is to install dimmer switches yourself!

First, you'll need to decide which rooms are best suited for medium light. This could be the dining room, the breakfast nook in the kitchen or your master bath (just imagine how relaxing it would be to take a bubble bath without bright lights in your face!). The spaces you choose should have cellular shades to block out the natural light when you're using

Artwork is pretty much an essential element of interior design - without creative pieces to act as focal points, a room can fall flat. While wall-mounted paintings or photographs are always good choices, you might be looking for ways to spruce up those standard roller shades for windows that you just bought.

If you're looking for an affordable, easy way to turn your cordless shades into design elements of their own, Martha Stewart has a great idea that uses wallpaper to cover them. Whether you choose to stick with the same paper that's covering the walls or pick out a new pattern, the window will act as a frame to set the design apart.

If you're something of an artist, you might even want to

When you're buying custom window shades, you have the option of hanging them either inside or outside of the window frame. An inside mount offers a tidy look, but outside mounts also have certain benefits that you might be interested in.

For starters, outside mounts are good for windows that aren't quite even. If the top of the window is narrower than the bottom, you might call attention to it by mounting a shade on the inside of the frame, which probably isn't what you're trying to accomplish!

Outside mounts can also help hide older windows that have seen better days. An outside mount can even make the window appear larger, which could impact the way your room looks. For example, if you have a smaller space that's a lot taller than it is wide, you can add visual width with an outside mount that makes the window appear wider.

There are times when there is not enough depth

Are you in love with your new roman shades? Make sure you keep your investment looking fresh with regular maintenance. And don't let the word "maintenance" scare you - with these easy steps your window coverings will last a long time.

Every week, use the brush attachment on your vacuum cleaner to suck up any dust or hair that's attached to the shades. This will help improve the air quality of your home and prevent your shades from becoming excessively dirty.

If you ever encounter a stain on your roman shades, it's best to spot treat the area immediately. Laundry stain removers work well, but only use them if you know the fabric can handle it. If worst comes to worst and you think your shades could use a complete washing, washable fabrics can be placed in the washing machine. Just be sure to detach the pulls and accessories first.

If your roman shades are made from materials