Home Decorating Ideas

Cottage decorating is meant for real living, which makes it perfect for the budget decorator.

Cottage style is a relaxed and casual style, reminiscent of a small vacation cottage in the woods, at the beach, or in the mountains. There are no rules, except everything is usable, feet can be put up on the furniture, and charming is the word of the day.

That being said, there are a number of things a budget decorator can do to bring the cottage style into their home.

One simple way is to add white through the room. If you prefer color on your walls, remember to add lots of white and light colored accessories to brighten up the room. White painted furniture, white plates on the wall and white fabric would all be great contrasts. If you have white walls, add a hint of color to them with a wash of the palest pastels, and color in the fabric.

many times it's the small details that can change the look and feel of a bathroom so it's always worthwhile to add some detail to the bathroom. You can do this by sewing fabric edging to your towels, adding a shell for a soap dish, or stitching up a pretty shower curtain to cover that vinyl one.

Hang some calendar pictures on the wall in dollar store frames in your favorite theme or perhaps of a faraway place you can dream about as you soak away your cares. If your bathroom has natural light from a window, consider adding a plant or two.

Now light up some candles, turn on your favorite soothing music, and fill the bath with sweet smelling bubbles. Your getaway awaits!

Here is an easy and inexpensive way to give bathroom cabinests a quick redo. Paint them black for a sophisticated look, or white with sponge painting for a country theme. Try any of the hot faux finishes. You can even paint the Formica counters. Just clean well and use a special primer first such as BIN or KILZ. Then seal with 4-6 coats of polyurethane after the paint dries. It should last for years and give your bathroom a completely new look for practically nothing.

Here is a nice way to dress up that large frameless mirror. Hang swags of fabric from cup hooks to hide and soften the edges of the mirror, and to give it a “frame”. Or actually use cut lengths of 1x4 lumber, and attach them to the wall over the edges of the mirror to simulate a real wood frame. You can paint or stain them as well to coordinate with your cabinets. This really makes a huge difference and doesn't cost much at all.

This is an easy one that can do wonders to the bathroom area. Get rid of the clutter! If you can’t get most of the makeup and shaving cream under the sink, (and who can?) pick up a few baskets from the dollar shop and corral them in. Make sure there is a hamper. If you are short on space, use the kind that hangs on the back of the door. A large drawstring bag would work for this also. (He might actually even use it...ok, it’s a dream.)

Often the bathroom is one of the most overlooked rooms in the home when it comes to decorating. We tend to see it as a utilitarian space, even though we spend quite a lot of time here. (More, if you have teenagers!) Take an afternoon to turn your bath into a relaxing and soothing retreat for yourself and your guests, without spending a lot of cash.

The first step is to paint the whole room, including the ceiling a deep, rich color. Even though this is a small room, a deep color on the walls allows them to fade away, and at once makes the room cozy and seems more spacious.