Holiday Bedroom:  Christmas Guest Room Ideas

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Pick a Color Scheme

One great way to invite the holidays into your home and make your guests feel the holiday cheer is with the color palette. Just as if one was decorating for the Easter season in which pastels would be idea, for Christmas you would choose different reds, greens, and white. Or, you could switch it up with a non-traditional approach by adding in royal blues, silver, violet, gold, even hot pink was used for the younger crowd some have even gone as far as neutrals or whites for the decor which adds a refreshing, open and organic appeal to the space. The choice is yours, use ribbons, bells, mini-Christmas trees, cozy blankets, pillows, curtains, knickknacks etc. that carry the color scheme that you and your guests may find comforting for the season.

Decorating Tips for the Holidays

Words have always been a great way to inspire, encourage, and uplift which are all of the things that are amazing to hear during the Christmas season. So capitalize on that idea, place design elements that spell words that depict the season. Choose words like; JOY, HOPE, MERRY, NOEL etc. You could place these on the mantle if it is in the room or even on the window sills, perhaps there is a fireplace that is no longer in place the words could sit there. You can visit any craft, hobby or home store for the letters and possible more ideas on how to create and display the words.

Create Interiors that Mimic the Outdoors

Something that was always fascinating about the holiday season is that when one decorates their home it’s both interior and exterior. Typically, for other holidays it’s usually one or the other not so much all at once. So with that being said, take inspiration from the exteriors for your holiday bedroom. Hang up some simple wreaths or garland on the beds, book shelves/ cases, mirrors or on the windows, again if there is a fireplace then on the mantle would be ideal. Again, take little shrubbery and tie colorful ribbons some of the branches or mini-Christmas trees and place them in the corners of the room.

Guests are great to have around for the holidays.  They bring the fun, life and character to the home, at least hopefully they bring all of these things.  So have their space to imitate the best of the season.  Just a few little tips and tricks can make an entire difference from the ordinary guest room to an extraordinary holiday bedroom.  Take a look above and see how the tips work for you.  Or perhaps fellow Stagetecture readers, you have some suggestions on how you like to create your guest rooms for the holidays?

For more bedroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Simple Tips to Bring Autumn to your Front Door this Season

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Wreaths or Swag

Wreaths or swags are possibly the most common elements that are used to décor the front door during autumn. What you have to take care is if the front door wreath is complementing to the design and color of your porch and entryway. Traditional harvest, autumn foliages, artificial or natural fruits and flowers, peacock feathers, acorns, pinecones, etc. are common materials used for making such wreaths. You can either buy or custom-make such a wreath and hang on your front door.

Instead of wreaths, you can go for buckets full of fall flowers too. Attach a hook to your door and hang one or two rustic-style bucket filled with fall blooms like small sized flowers and red-colored berries. Swag wreaths offer a gorgeous way to display rustic elements like this Autumn Wreath Swag are nice additions to welcome guests. Visit our fall wreaths on How to Make a Burlap Wreath!

Use Fall Harvest & Plants

Gourds and pumpkins are common fall harvest and are essential part of fall décor. Line the front steps of your home with metallic or wooden gourds and pumpkins and pots of fall flowers like asters, mums, heuchera, verbena, oxalis, etc. Hang a door-framing garland made of black feathers. This garland and pumpkins will bring an early Halloween feel into your porch.

How to Create a Shared Guest Room and Playroom

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Buy Versatile Furniture in your Guest Room

Versatile furniture pieces like daybeds cater to both adults and kids. Kids can read on them and adults can sleep in them. However, if you want to create a living room atmosphere in the space, a sleeper sofa is more suitable. It offers convenience as users can sit on it and sleep in it comfortably. Get a daybed or a sleeper sofa with a kid-friendly fabric and add some throw pillows to make the room inviting. Incorporate ottomans or benches with storage and side tables with cabinets and drawers.

Maximize Storage in your Shared Guest Room

Storage is important in a room that will be filled with sheets, blankets, books, toys, and more. You can build closed cabinets and high bookcases with adjustable shelves. You can position the bookcases on top of the cabinets to create ample space for accessories. Be sure to fill the bookcases with books for both kids and adults.

Choose a Versatile Color Scheme

Choose a color scheme that makes the room feel cheerful but is also gentle enough to relax guests. For instance, an apple green hue with red splashes or a pastel blue hue with yellow accents can make the room lively without making it feel too childish. You can also paint one wall a bold color and paint the other walls a neutral color.

A guest room and a playroom are necessities for a family and you might have difficulty choosing between them if you are not willing to give up one for the other. Creating a room that can be used by both children and adults is not as difficult as you think. Use the above space-saving tips to create a guest room you’ll be proud to show off to your family and friends. You will not only make your kids happy, you will inspire your guests to think outside the box when decorating their spaces.

When combining functions in a room what tips do you have for space saving?

Weekend Gardening: Edibles to Grow This Spring

How to Grow Container Herbs

Herbs are ideal for container gardens. They are easy to plant and thrive and they are low-maintenance. Having your fresh, favorite herbs ready to be used is the ultimate key to creating delightful dishes. Some of the herbs like mint are better to be grown in containers since they can grow easily and take up a lot of space if planted in a garden. Some ideas for herbs to be planted are oregano, parsley, thyme, and cilantro, all of which can be harvested and dried if needed. Other ideas are to plant basil, lemongrass, and rosemary. Those herbs require larger containers if not planted in a garden. Here are some herbs we love to grow.

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Weekend Gardening: Learn to Grow Strawberries in a Container

Strawberries are great to be grown in containers or a garden. They can be harvested and turned into delicious marmalades, desserts, sauces or ice cream and even be frozen to be used at a later time. Containers are ideal for growing strawberries because they will grow over the edges and not get in touch with the soil, making them easy to thrive and eat. Hanging containers can also add to any balcony’s appeal. Just make sure to plant a lot of strawberry plants, since you will want to have many of those aromatic fruits to enjoy.

How about a yummy Citrus Plant for your Weekend Gardening?

Although many think citrus trees grow only in warm climates, you can succeed in growing your own lemon, lime or orange tree even in colder areas. Just plant the tree in a large pot and move it into a warmer place – even inside – in the cold months. They may not produce very big citrus fruits, but they will be for sure filled with taste, juice, and fragrance.

These are just some ideas of many edibles you could plant that are easy to grow and to maintain without much effort. The effect, though, of having your own oranges or basil to use is so much greater than the effort it takes. Just go ahead and plant your favorite edible to enjoy them throughout spring, summer and even fall!

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Use Modern Window Dressing in your Interiors

Although when it comes to interior designs windows do not tend to get as much attention as say, a different coat of paint or some new furniture, there are actually a wide variety of modern and stylish window treatments that don’t cost a lot of money to buy and only takes a little bit of time to install.

Luxurious curtains for your interiors

When it comes to the more traditional kind of window treatments, probably the first kind that come to mind are drapes or curtains. However, what provides a bit of a trendy twist is by selecting ones that are made with by luxurious fabrics such as silks, suede or velvet. If you do decide to go this route, you’re going to be paying a bit more money for the yards of fabric, but if you can sew a hem, it can still be a pretty affordable investment.

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Roman shades add a touch of modern design

If you don’t want to use curtains or blinds, Roman shades are an ideal compromise. Whether you want a casual, classic or formal look, one great thing about this particular option is that there are plenty of websites that can walk you through how to make them by hand.  Just make sure to put “how to make Roman shades” in the search field to locate the instructions.

Consider sheer window dressings

Do you love having the sun wake you up in the morning? If so, another option to consider is going with some sheer fabric to add a bit of warmth to a room without compromising the natural light that comes through the windows. Sheer window dressing come in all kinds of colors and patterns. Another nice fabric alternative to them (especially if you are eco-friendly) is organic linen.

Blinds are a good window treatment option

Whether you purchase blinds that you can maneuver by hand, the great thing about this option is that they come in a variety of materials (such as wood or plastic) and colors. This helps to either give a room a really casual or a more formal appearance. A particular kind of blinds that are currently all the rage are honeycomb blinds. That’s because they’re not only stylish and affordable, but they are eco-friendly too. Speaking of eco-friendly, two other great materials for blinds are sheer linen panels and bamboo blinds.

Choose curtain rods that add beauty to your window dressing

If you do decide to go with curtains, you need some curtain rods to hang them from, right? A current style that is a timeless fashion statement is rods that are made out of stainless steel. They’re sturdy, they’re attractive, they’re appropriate for any room of the house (whether it’s a formal dining room or a laidback bonus room) and they will last for a lifetime. Definitely a look worth eying.

For more window dressing ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

DIY Forced Spring Blooms – Choosing the Best Flowers & Materials

Image via: Woven Home

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Materials Needed:

• Working gloves
• Pruning shears or scissors
• Plant container (bottles, vases, or jars)
• Floral preservatives

Choose your preferred shrubs or trees:

• Shrubs:

  • Forsythia
  • Wintersweet
  • Honeysuckles
  • Spiraea
  • Flowering squince

• Trees:

  • Red Maple
  • Pear
  • Apple
  • Redbud
  • Apricot Cherry

  

  Image via: The Cranes Nest

Procedure:

1. Cut the branch of the shrubs or trees. Make sure that you carefully identify the swollen or plump buds before cutting.
2. Trim the ends of the branch. Remove any twig at about 3 – 4 inches from its bottom.
3. Slit the branch in different directions. It should be around ½ inch long. Use the pruning shear or sharp scissors to perform this step. Mash the ends of the slit into a hard surface. This will allow the ends to splay and encourage water absorption.
4. Submerge the branch completely in a container of cold to lukewarm water. Have the branches soaked overnight.
5. Position the branch upright in your container and place it in a cool and dark area. A basement or hall closet will do. Leave the branch until buds are beginning to show signs of growth. This is about a week or two depending on the type of branch you choose.
6. Then, relocate the plant into your desired location.

The whole process doesn’t end in relocation. You should take care of the plant more than ever. Perform a normal maintenance procedure just like any other plant. You will be surprise that you just did it!

For more gardening tips on Stagetecture, click here.

Plants are generally dependent on their environment. The winter environment has something to do with their capability to bloom. But with proper intervention, you can make it possible.

How to Force Blooms from Tree Branches for Spring Flowers

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Consider these effective ideas to force spring flowers to bloom during the cooler months. Here’s a helpful bulb calendar to know when to plant your bulbs to force blooms. Empress of Dirt has a great article about forcing bulbs to bloom. We love their chart below:

Image via: Empress of Dirt

Proper timing to cut tree branches

The majority of spring flowers requires an ample time of cold dormancy. This will allow them to adapt to indoor locations and force them to bloom. It is best to cut the branches while it is still relatively warm. You can opt to start in mid-January until late February or early March. See to it that the branches are well taken care of during this transition period.

Spring Flowers: Know what to cut

This is a crucial step in the whole process. This will make or break everything that you plan. When cutting, make sure that you look for swollen and plump buds.  Look for larger and rounder buds for a better branch. You have to cut it long enough to display the branch at an angle. Use proper cutting tools in this process.

Avoid branches getting dry

You have to maintain proper moisture to the branches. Cover the branch with a plastic bag loosely or have them mist daily to avoid drying. Make sure that the water doesn’t stick in the container and becomes cloudy. Place the container in a cool place for quick recovery and transition.

Expect to see the buds starting to open within 1 – 6 weeks. But the care and maintenance for the spring flowers should be consistent all throughout.

For more gardening ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How to Make a Succulent Terrarium Tutorial

Image via: West Elm

Today you will see how to make a soil terrarium and watch a video on how to build one in a glass container or a bottle.

Image via: Etsy – Doodle Birdie – Succulent Terrarium

How to Make a Glass Terrarium:

Link to –> How to Make a Glass Terrarium Video

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How to make a glass terrarium:

You don’t have to miss all the greenery of your garden this winter. Just add a terrarium it will provide the green foliage you want in the interior. This wonderful piece of art is a great indoor plant decoration. It will add color to your space and enhance the oxygen supply in the room.

The terrarium is getting popular for its exceptional beauty and functionality. It makes a certain area at home look better and greener. If you’re interested in having this masterpiece, you can do it by yourself at home. You just have to prepare all the materials and tools needed for this project.

Terrarium Supplies:

• Glass container or glass terrarium
• Charcoal
• Soil
• Succulents, cacti or garden plants
• Working gloves
• Hand trowel
• Watering can

Directions:

1. Scatter the charcoal in the base of your glass container. This should be at least 1-2 inches thick. Leave a handful of charcoal.
2. Mix the remaining charcoal with a decent amount of soil. Use hand trowel and working gloves in mixing.
3. Add another layer of pure soil. This should cover at least a quarter or half of the container. Compress the soil gently as you fill in the layer. The process will prevent large air pockets.
4. Place your plants on top of the layered soil. Provide enough space for each plant you place. This will allow you to insert additional soil in between spaces.
5. Press the pack of soil around the plants. Do this gently and ensure that the roots are fully covered and that the plants will not go too far beyond the container.
6. Water the plants and place it in a conducive area where sunlight is present.
7. Allow the plants to adapt in its new location before relocating it to your desired area indoor.

Image via: West Elm

After placing your terrarium indoors, bear in mind that you still have to take care of it regularly. You have to water the plants regularly and trim the excess foliage that go beyond the container. This is definitely a worthwhile project you can do this winter! If you don’t feel like making a terrarium you can buy one from Terrain, we love their terrariums!

For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture and more succulent care ideas, click here.

Home Decorating: Giving the Illusion of Space

Image via: Coastal Living

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Neutral or Light Colors

The coloring of the space can either enhance or take away from the space.  Try using light and neutral colors, to help make the space seem open and more airy. The colors force the walls to disappear and blend in versus standing out and becoming a space consumer. Use whites, beige, grays and muted pastels for this tip. Also, try to avoid using large pieces of furniture.  Bulky furniture again will take away from the space, some great ways to change this setback is by using multi-purpose furniture that will be able to give storage, decor and an overall function to the space for your home decorating ambiance.

Image via:  Boxman

The Use of Lighting

The value of the space can be fully achieved by how much lighting you let in. Natural light can illuminate the space and therefore make the space feel again, more open. Pull back the shading or use light colored fabrics/sheers for the window treatments. Remove anything blocking the view of the light coming in from the windows. Now if you do not have enough windows then various sizes of lamps with brighter lights will also do. Avoid using ceiling lights because they can usually cut the height of the room or space. Mirrors are a great room openers as well. Mirrors carry some similar qualities to that of a window, being able to add depth and space depending on the placement.  Try placing them on the opposite sides of the windows, on the sliding doors of the bedroom closet, or at the end of the hallway to make it seem extended.

Image via:  Decorating Den Central

Use Storage Spaces

The spaces that we can forget to use at times can be our greatest allies when wanting to create a larger space. The kitchen drawers and cabinets, the space on top of the refrigerator, bathroom sink cabinets and counter tops, shelves over doorways are all storing ways that you can use to de-clutter and organize your space to max.  Use the forgotten spaces within your home as storage spaces.

Image via: Sunset Ideas

Space within the home is always a plus.  However, most home have some issues with this characteristic.  Fortunately, there are some home decorating ideas to help curve this problem.  With a few tricks that help to fool the eye, you can add the space and depth to your interiors.  So take a look above at the suggestions and let them work for your home.

Stagetecture readers do you have any tips on how you give the perception of more space to your interiors?

Winter Organization: Revamping your Attic or Basement

Image via: Home Design

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Make your Attic a Guest Room

Typically, the more space that your home can offer the better, so with that being said have your attic or basement become spare bedrooms or dens for your home. Depending on how large or intimate your attic or basement is it can either be a guest suite for when family members come over for the holidays or unexpected visits, or even an extra den for the kids to go to when you need peace and quiet within your home. Perhaps you have a growing family and need a nursery these are great areas to begin with.

In Need of a Home Office

Maybe you and your spouse are starting a business or just a need a space dedicated to your work. Fortunately, the attic and basement are excluded enough for one to be able to do get there work done and not be bothered.  For this winter organizational tip, visit websites and magazines for inspiration about how to go about revamping your attic or basement into a home office and take off from there. You can even go as far as to make the office a family office that the kids can use for their homework and projects, just lay down some ground rules such as this is the homework room.

Image via: Design Ideas

A Home within a Home

How about creating an extra home within your home? That’s right, creating an apartment above or below your home. Contact a credible contractor to help assess your home and see you if can first turn the places into an apartment. You can rent it out, just be aware of your neighborhood, you might have a better turn out if you live near a local college or walkable neighborhood. Or you may just want to have a bigger space for your guests to be comfortable for there stay with you. The choices are yours.

Image via:  HGTV

The attic and basement are areas that just seemed to go unnoticed and after awhile become just another larger closet.  But that does not have to be the case, make these spaces work for you and grow into more than just another storage space.  The possibilities are endless for this winter organization project.  So go out research, explore and be inspired to do above and beyond within your interiors.  Do you have any revamping ideas for your attic or basement spaces?

For basement or attic ideas on Stagetecture, click here.