If you are trying to think of how to spend your weekend, how about creating DIY crafts that will beautify your interiors? Whether you want a decorative shadow box to hang flowers, or get rid of your boring lamp, Sunset magazine has a lot of great ideas! So before you say you are bored this weekend, use these helpful DIY crafts to beautify your home and give you a sense of accomplishment once you are done!

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Shadow-box Wall Vase

This is like having 3D artwork on your wall.  It’s an innovative way to make a twist out of your ordinary frame. The shadow-box serves as a protrude art where you can mix and match its style with your favorite flower arrangements. To do this, create a personalized shadow-box and paint it with a complimentary color to  your wall. Use nails to secure your frame. Then, you can add your floral arrangement in the shadow-box hole. Don’t forget to replace flowers on a regular basis. This craft is a beautiful way to bring nature to an area that might normally be gloomy – like an interior home office or bedroom.

Creative Lampshade

If you are tired of looking at your dull and plain lampshade, wait until you do some creative paper designs in it. This can be done in a few easy steps. First, replace your existing lampshade with a plain white color. If it’s already white, you just have to remove dust and dirt stuck in your shade. Next, lay down your design template in a white rice paper. Using a cutter or craft knife, trim your design carefully and accurately. Attach your design at the back of your shade using clear adhesive. Use a small amount of adhesive in each corner of your design so it won’t appear when lamp is turned on.

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Tabletop Twigscape

Cut twigs and branches to form an elegant tabletop design. The twigs and branches are artistically formed by nature which makes it very attractive when properly orchestrated at the center of your tabletop. For this craft, you need dried twigs and branches from your garden, durable base, pebbles, electric drill and wood glue. Start by forming your base using a wood. Depending on the size or dimension you wanted, cut the wood and form it accordingly. Drill some holes at the center that are enough to hold twigs and branches. Use wood glue to securely fasten the twigs. Scatter the pebbles onto the base to provide an artistic and natural look. What a great idea for a centerpiece on your dining table or kitchen bar.

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Spending a few hours to do these crafts during weekends will certainly boost the beauty of your home. Invite the whole family to work with you. These weekend crafts can be a great bonding activity for the whole family. Have a great weekend!

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas

]]> https://stagetecture.com/simple-diy-home-crafts-to-do-this-weekend/feed/ 1 29764 https://stagetecture.com/stagetecture-is-hiring-diy-bloggers-writers-enthusiasts/ Fri, 06 Jul 2012 18:59:50 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=29510 Entry #1367, July 6, 2012

Since 2009, Stagetecture has developed over 100 DIY Saturdays. Last week was DIY Saturday #105 and I started realizing that Stagetecture readers worldwide have tons of Do it Yourself or DIY experience and projects they’d probably love to share. So whether you are a blogger, writer, or just a home enthusiast who loves sharing great DIY projects, I’d love to have  you on Stagetecture!

I’m looking for people who have the ability to present a DIY project in a written step by step fashion, as well as have knowledge of tools, materials, and how long the project takes. If you or someone you know loves to write about, or even help your neighbors with their DIY home projects, how about get paid to share your project on a DIY Saturday?

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Here’s how it works:

Research past Stagetecture DIY articles:

1.) Before you contact Stagetecture. Review past DIY Saturday’s here and look at Stagetecture You Tube Channel for examples of good DIY Saturday examples.

I am looking for DIY projects that are universal (meaning topics that the majority of homeowners worldwide can tackle.)

• A good example: How to replace a tile backsplash in your kitchen.

• A poor example: How to remove a structural beam to enlarge a room.

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Inquiring about the job:

2.) If you fit the above description for a DIY writer, you will need to provide the following:

• Click on ‘Contact Us’ and title your inquiry ‘DIY Writer’. Include information about yourself, your DIY experience, and links to your work.

• Link can include: previous DIY articles on the web, publications, blogs, etc… If you don’t have previous articles I will ask you to submit a sample article once we talk via email.

• Each writer will get paid a one-time amount based on experience, length, images, You-Tube video examples of their project, etc.. I will discuss payment with you when inquiring for the job.

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Long term writers:

3.) Each Saturday I hope to have a new writer submit articles along with other DIY Saturdays articles. If the readers enjoy your writing and you have new content to offer, your one-time writing could turn into a long term contributor with Stagetecture!

I look forward to hearing from you as we continue DIY Saturday inspiration!

Please note: All DIY articles must be originally written, but you can use other blogs, publications for reference, but must credit the original source in your writing. Please write articles that will have images and You Tube videos to illustrate your ideas.  If you have troubles, your project may be too specific. We can talk this out if you are chosen as a writer.

-Thanks, Ronique

Watch Stagetecture’s You Tube Channel for more DIY ideas

Household items will always pile up over a period of time especially when you don’t remove and purge closet contents. As a result, you cannot prevent a cluttered closet over time. This happens when you don’t let go of things such as clothes, shoes, bags and any other personal belongings. Instead of just closing the door on your closet, you need to have a plan to get more use out of your cluttered closet.

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Well, there is no point in having a large or small closet when you do not know how to maximize the available space.

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You might end up surrounded by closets in your room but still not enough to cater all your things. Here are some ideas to maximize storage in your cluttered closet:

Remove items that aren’t in use

To start this task, check each of your clothes and other personal belongings if you are still using it. Keep only those you wear like uniforms, casual wear and other things you need. Apply the rule of thumb. If you have not used it in a year, then, remove it from your closet. You can separate it by season, color or type like tops, pants, jackets and so on.

Learn to let go, purge and donate

You may be holding on to clothes for whatever reason even though you are no longer using it. Remember that thing deteriorate over time. Without you knowing it, your shirt or pants are already ruined without you or someone getting benefited from it. Think of people who might need your things as often. Donating your things to family members, relatives, friends or charities can be very helpful. You will certainly experience a different joy with a simple act of love you make.

Modify and add partitions or shelves in your closet

You can add more shelves especially when you can no longer fit things in all drawers. If the bottom part is already filled, you can always add something on top. Shelving is one of the best ways to add more space in your closet. You may use the additional or extended shelves for your shoes and bags.

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Consider hanging your apparel

Maximize your storage by installing hooks at the back of your closet door, inner wall or behind bedroom doors. It can be used to hang your accessories, jackets, ties, hats, backpacks, and other things that can be hooked.

These ideas will not only maximize the use of space in your closet but also prevent your closet from being cluttered. Use these ideas for maximizing space in your closet.

For more organization ideas for Stagetecture, click here.

Ceilings are sometimes forgotten when it comes to painting your home’s interior. Little thought is given to its contribution of a room’s design. In order to achieve an updated, refreshing look in your home, a fresh coat of paint can go a long way.

Image via:  Houzz

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Experiment with these tips for painting your ceiling and upgrading your home’s decor:

Consider the height of your ceiling.

If your ceilings are low, pick a shade or two lighter than your walls to add height and dimension to the room. If you have high ceilings, paint a shade or two darker to diminish the impersonal feeling and add warmth to the room.

Remove any possible furniture and objects from the room.

Painting any part of a room can get messy, especially the ceiling, so be sure to remove the furniture from the space before painting.

Lay drop cloths.

Cover your carpet and any furniture that can’t be moved with drop cloths to avoid damage from spilled paint.

Tape your walls.

Mark the corners of the walls that you will not be painting with tape so that you are confined to painting the ceiling.

Image via: Plenty of Colour

Paint the edges.

Begin painting along the edges where the ceiling meets the wall and paint the edges of the entire ceiling. Work your way around the perimeter of the room until all of the edges are covered.

Use a paint roller with an extension:

and begin to paint the ceiling. Allow the first coat to dry.

Apply a second coat.

Start with the corners of the room using a paint brush and go over the rest of the ceiling with the roller.

Painting your ceiling is a cost-friendly way to revamp the style of any room. While most ceilings are painted white, don’t be afraid to experiment with color and include your ceiling in the paint planning process for the room.

If you’ve never done it before, painting you  ceiling can seem like an overwhelming task. If it’s not something you want to tackle or you don’t have time, call the experts CertaPro Painters of the Gold Coast at 708-588-9925 to schedule a free painting estimate.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Summer is in the air! It’s time to open up the windows and invite the fresh air and sunlight inside. If the sunlight has opened your eyes to your dull, lifeless living room, though, it may be time to introduce fresh colors into your home.

Brighten up your living room and brighten up your life with the following tips:

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Throw pillows.

A simpler way to incorporate vibrant colors in your living room is with a variety of throw pillows. Choose three or five pillows of different shapes, sizes, and textures to add depth. Consult Pinterest for some DIY pillow projects, and don’t be afraid to incorporate patterns – the brighter, the better. Coordinate yellows with oranges and greens, or pick one color and choose pillows in different shades.

Picture frames.

Stop by your local thrift store and look for inexpensive picture frames. With some bright turquoise spray paint, those old frames can make a fresh start on your walls. Keep the photos black and white for a classic look.

Accessories.

As the seasons change, so should your accessories. Swap out your table lamps. Throw down a bright rug. Fill a glass vase with lemons and limes. Small touches of color bring an overall brightness.

Flowers.

Bring new life into your living room by adding fresh flowers to every surface. To decorate on a budget, opt for larger flowers, like peonies, which take up more space with fewer buds – saving you money without sacrificing the color.

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Fresh paint.

Nothing brightens up a room like a fresh coat of paint. Westchester professional painters offer free in-home paint color consultations with an interior decorator when you schedule your paint job.

Ensure your home reflects the beauty of the season. Get a free paint color consultation with CertaPro Painters of Westchester by calling 914-245-2260.

For more color ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Window treatments have come a long way from just covering a window for privacy while adding visual interest at the same time. Curtains are most commonly used to keep sunlight in or out while also adding privacy, but there are also other creative ways to use curtains. Fabric and textiles are a beautiful way to add height in a room when hung closer to the ceiling, they make a bedroom look more romantic when hung around a canopy bed, and they are a simple way to separate a studio apartment that needs distinct areas within a room. Here are some inspiring ways to make your curtains brighten your interiors.

Image via: Apartment Therapy

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Use curtains in non-traditional ways:

While curtains are beautiful at your windows the material can be used in several unconventional ways. Order online curtain fabric and use as beautiful wall covering in place of wall paper. If you are handy with a staple gun and batting, consider making an upholstered headboard for your bed with curtain fabric. They also make a beautiful backdrop on the backside of open shelving or inside of a hutch or bulletin board in your home office! Curtains can be used for more than just windows.

Image via: Decor Pad

Use curtains outdoors:

Most people think of curtains for only inside your home but curtains have become popular in outdoor applications as well. On your patio, lanai, or even to keep the sun out of your sunny deck, all-weather curtains are a great idea. Ensure that the fabric you choose can hold up to climate changes, and especially harsh sun rays. There are several brands online that will help your outdoor home look and feel as beautiful as your interiors!

Curtains are a beautiful way to soften your interiors but they can also be used in a myriad of options. Try a few of these ideas out in your home inside and out. You will be surprised how curtain fabric is versatile and beautiful when you add it with your creative decorative touches.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

When decorating your home office, there are a number of things to consider when choosing the right paint colors. This is very essential for color can influence the mood and disposition of people inside an office. It can also boost and energize the ambiance.

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Here are some guide questions to help you choose the right color for your home office:

Do you want it more masculine, feminine or neutral setting?

Neutral colors like a beige, gold or tan would probably fit best. These colors do not suggest gender sensitivity. However, depending on how you want it to look like matters. These colors will go with fishing or hunting wall hangings you may have as well as soft water color paint if you wish to use as your wall décor.

Is your room well-lit?

Consider the amount of light you will have in your home office.  Consider the sources of lighting you have coming from a natural window, fluorescent or chandelier lighting.

A little deeper, darker tone will go to a well lit office.  The sun’s rays streaming down to your room will tend to brighten up and seem to have a larger space. If you go darker on your wall color like navy blue or dark green, it would be best if you soften the look using a lighter color border or molding. Colors like creams, light tans, and champagne beige will most certainly give you more of a spacious look.

Image via: Look Book.Elledecor

What are the colors of your furniture?

Another thing to consider is the color of your office furniture. Choose a paint color that will coordinate with it like walnuts, oaks, wickers, and pines that will adapt to almost any paint scheme. If you don’t want to use wood consider the lighter or darker tones of your furniture. Your office could use these in textiles, finishes, window treatments or in accent colors in your office decor.

Are you comfortable with the color?

Since it is a home office setup, what really matters is your perspective. You have to feel comfortable and relax with the color you choose.

Painting is an excellent way to give an old room a breath of fresh air. Hence, choosing the right color for your home office will certainly enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of work output. Also consider using wallpaper for a color variety or simply adding wall hangings and decorative art.

For more home office ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

]]> https://stagetecture.com/simple-ideas-in-choosing-colors-for-your-home-office/feed/ 0 26450 https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-how-to-create-a-romantic-master-bedroom/ https://stagetecture.com/guest-blogger-how-to-create-a-romantic-master-bedroom/#respond Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:08:06 +0000 https://stagetecture.com/?p=24981 Guest Blogger #452, Entry #1077, April 10, 2012

Whether you’ve been married for six months, six years or sixty years, keeping the romance alive is important. Marriage takes effort and the best marriages are those where the partners continue to pay attention to one another’s needs, year after year. The first step to take to make sure your marriage keeps its spark is to create a romantic master bedroom. Here’s how:

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Color

Certain colors evoke certain moods. Choose colors that are calm and soothing, like those you would see in a spa. Look for shades of pale blues, greens and creams. Colors that are too deep or bright can create tension and should be saved for accents in other rooms in the house. You want your bedroom to be an oasis, not a source of stress.

Accessories

Keep accessories in the bedroom to a minimum. A bedroom that is too crowded will feel small and confining rather than cozy and inviting. A few throw pillows, a candle or two and wall hangings are all you need to make your master bedroom feel welcoming and romantic.

Windows

Don’t leave the windows bare in your master bedroom and skip sterile blinds or shades. Look for window treatments that are soft and flowing and billow with the breeze. If you need to block the light, look for black out shades or blinds that can be rolled up and out of sight when not in use.

Image via: Home Design Decorating

Distractions

Your room should be used for nothing but sleeping and lovemaking. Remove the television, computer and iPod dock. Electronics in the bedroom only serve to distract you and remind you of all that you forgot to do during the day. If you sleep better with a small amount of noise, consider turning on a table fan or purchase a small white noise machine.

Rules

Create a list of rules for your master bedroom that the entire family must follow. For instance, no children should be permitted in your bedroom unless there is an illness, no arguing should take place in the master bedroom and no phone calls should be taken in the room. It may take some time to get used to but do your best to stick to these rules. When your room is used only for the purpose it was designed, it will automatically become a place that you want to retreat to after a long day.

 Image via: Porter House Designs

Bedding

When you’re choosing bedding for the master bedroom, look for lush fabrics. Velvets, satins and Egyptian cottons are all fabrics that feel wonderful under your skin. Does your current bedding make you melt as soon as you hit the sheets? If not, it may be time to look for more luxurious fabrics. Go ahead and splurge!

Time

Try to spend some time alone together in your room. Whether it’s 15 minutes after dinner or an hour on Saturday morning, use the room to catch up with each other. When you begin to use the room to connect with each other, romance will soon become effortless.

Wendy Fernandez blogs for honeymoondestinations.org, a site she recommends checking out if you’re planning a honeymoon or a vacation to an exotic place. They have guides to help you plan a trip to aruba as well as ideas if you don’t know where to go, like this one: Head to Aruba for 3 Hot Honeymoon Adventures.

For more bedroom & living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Color is the creator of moods. Decorators understand that fact and rely on color to set the tone for any room they are designing. They realize that the wrong color choice can leave people feeling vaguely uncomfortable, like something’s off a bit. You can use this designer’s trick when you’re decorating a room and want to create the perfect atmosphere. Think about what the room you’re decorating is used for. Ask yourself how you want yourself and others to feel when they’re in the room. What kind of emotions or energy do you want to stimulate?

Image via: Remodelista

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Blues are for Relaxing

Blue is one of the most popular of all colors and many men say blue is their favorite color. Most shades of blue are tranquil and calming. They’re even known to lower blood pressure and slow the heart rate. Blues are great colors for bedrooms and baths or other spaces where you want the mood to be soothing.

Greens are Naturals

Green is a calming color as well, bringing in the tranquility of nature. It relieves stress and is often used in waiting rooms to lessen anxiety. That’s why the ‘green room’ is where people wait when they’re about to appear on television. It’s also considered a healing, healthy hue and the color of fertility. Until the 15th century, green was the color of choice for wedding gowns.

Yellows are Energizing

Yellow is associated with happiness, optimism, and energy. Use touches of this color in rooms where you’re active, like kitchens and family rooms. Don’t overdo, however, because too much yellow can cause agitation and arguments.

Image via: Design is Mine.Blogspot

Orange is Cheerful

Orange is a color that evokes a feeling of warmth and contentment. This is a good color choice for family rooms, kitchens, and other rooms where people come together.

Browns are Down to Earth

When people see brown they tend to think of strength, solidness, and security. Another warm shade, brown is a good choice for dens, libraries, and other rooms where you want people to feel comfortable and safe.

Reds are Exciting

Red is for romance, passion, and warmth. Reds are stimulating and tend to whet the appetite so it’s a great color to use in dining rooms and kitchens. It’s also a good choice where you want to encourage conversation and activity like living rooms or game rooms. Touches of red add a romantic air to your bedroom, but don’t use too much or it will keep you awake.

Purple is for Royalty

The color purple has long been associated with royalty, luxuriousness, and elegance. If you want to invoke a feeling of richness in a room, bring in shades of grape, aubergine, lavender, or lilac. Accent with golds or silvers to take the opulence up a notch.

Image via: House of Turquoise

Black and White for Sophistication

Black represents power and sophistication, while white symbolizes the opposite – innocence and purity. Together or separately, these colors add an air of drama and contrast to any room. If you’re struggling to choose a color scheme, think about the mood you want to create. When you determine that factor, you’ll have a clear clue to the color that will work best.

Kelli McDonald is an expert on interior design and loves to write about it. She also loves to set up the perfect dining room sets for her friends and family.

For more color ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Now that Easter has past and the Easter home decor goes away, what happens to the dinner table? Is it left bare until the next holiday comes around or do you just throw an old tablecloth over it and forget it? In my household it’s the latter and I realized that your dining room table can have everyday centerpieces that allow for beauty 24-7.

Here are some wonderful ideas for bringing touches of inspiration and aromatic touches to your dining room table, until the next holiday rolls around!

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Simple galvanized pail with fresh blooms

Create a festive centerpiece with fruit

Create a tablescape with apothecary jars

Group your favorite herbs together for a simple centerpiece

Try these simple ideas for bringing color and creativity to your everyday dining room table. Use your imagination to create a unique sanctuary of family memories, hints of nature, or something you enjoy looking at throughout the day. Your dining room table never looked so good!

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.