Christmas is almost here and hopefully by now all of you have your trees up!  I must admit sadly that this year has been too hectic and I haven’t gotten around to putting one up!    The intent was always there though……I had saved some trees that I had liked from the Martha Stewart website.  Thought I would share them with you for those of you scrambling last minute to get ideas for your tree!  Plus they are so festive and pretty!  You’ll notice that there is a big trend towards smaller and tabletop trees these days….I love the smaller trees!  Such a great option for those of you in smaller apartments and townhomes!

Image from http://www.kaluinteriors.com

I came across this great article on the Style At Home website on 5 great ways to update your bedroom with stylish decorating ideas.  Since the bedroom is where we spend a good amount of time it should be a place to escape the demands of everyday life and a place to find silence and solitude as well.  So even if it is not a room that everyone will always see, it is definitely worth updating!

Here are 5 ways to update your bedroom on a budget:

Bedroom decorating idea #1: Paint
One of the best ways to give your bedroom a lift is to paint the walls. Inject some of your favourite colour into your bedroom by giving the walls a fresh new coat of paint. Your bedroom will feel brighter and cleaner. Try a bold new colour or a soft neutral.

Bedroom decorating idea #2: Blinds and curtains
Try changing the look of your bedroom by changing the blinds or curtains. Curtains are available in a wide variety of patterns and fabrics. Choose a colour that works with your theme or try something entirely different. Sheer drapes and velvet curtains are two of today’s hottest trends.

Bedroom decorating idea #3:Pillows and cushions
New pillows and cushions are another way to add a dash of colour to your bedroom. Multiple pillows and/or cushions on the bed make a lovely accent and allow you the opportunity to see how new colours work with your current colour scheme. And, best of all, they can easily be changed when you’re ready to update again. Blankets and throws are another fun, but functional accessory. Keep a matching throw, strewn over the bottom of your bed for a slightly different look.

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Bedroom decorating idea #4: Duvets and bedskirts
The bed is the focal point of most bedrooms, so for the most impact a new duvet cover is likely to do the trick. Bedskirts are available in a wide assortment of colours, fabrics and textures and are a wonderful finishing touch on any bed.

Bedroom decorating idea #5: Wall hangings
Artwork, mirrors, shelving – all of these are easy ways to dress up the walls in your room. Beautiful artwork can be found in any art shop, or try something more creative and frame your favourite photos or pictures from books or magazines. Simple or elaborate, a framed mirror is not only an attractive touch but will help to make your bedroom look bigger. Wall shelves are easy to install and make the perfect home for accessories (framed photos, candles, books) that speak to your personality.

[via: Style At Home]

Image from http://www.houseandhome.com/

As much as we’d like to ignore it, Christmas is just around the corner and it will officially be December next week. Yikes!  It’s that time of year again to haul out the Christmas decorations and to make the house look festive.  I came across this great article on tips for decorating your living room on the HGTV site.

Living Area
Red and green? Oh, please. Instead, try decorating with unique, bold colours such as pink, gold, silver, blue, purple and copper. Spruce up your space by constructing subtle arrangements made of pinecones, twigs, clove covered oranges, seeded balls, berries, boughs of greenery and ribbon. These can be used to decorate mantelpieces, windowsills, door frames and shelves. You may also want to replace your everyday throw and accent pillows with brighter models in holiday colours. But you don’t necessarily have to run out and buy new pillows – instead, find pillow cases in jewel tones, or simply wrap your old pillows in festive fabric and secure with safety pins. Sweeten up the coffee table, too, by filling clear vases with red and white striped candy canes.

Lighting is key during the holidays. If your living room window doesn’t face the road, or if you don’t mind a little less privacy, remove your curtains and replace them with ‘drapes’ created using grapevine lights draped over the curtain rod. Increase ambiance with white, silver and brightly coloured candles, which can be placed in glass vases and holders and used to adorn window sills and side tables. Add coloured glass beads to your clear candle holders for an extra splash of celebratory panache. Scatter baskets of pinecones, festive potpourri and ornaments around the room, and affix small bunches of greens such as boxwood or mistletoe above doors and windows and on light fixtures and arches. Use wreaths to decorate windows. Be sure any wreaths you buy are attractive on both sides, since those looking in will have a different vantage point. Hang wreaths with attractive satin or sheer ribbons.

Kitchen and Dining Room
During holiday gatherings, it seems guests always congregate in the kitchen, which is the best reason to decorate! Warm up table tops with bright runners and cloths in thick, textured fabrics. In the dining room, use more delicate, ethereal runners and cloths to create a classy look. Create jolly centrepieces using faux (or fresh!) apples, oranges and pears decorated with small evergreen branches and berries and placed on a platter. Faux fruit also makes a great addition to garlands on staircases and mantles. In the dining room, use a cake plate to create a lovely centrepiece using a wreath and a candle in a hurricane holder. When setting the table, find bright napkins and pair them with silver, gold or copper napkin rings. Brightly coloured chargers will also dress up a table and can be left out even when you aren’t entertaining. Glass pitchers can be used to house sprigs of fresh pine greenery and placed on a kitchen or dining room table. Use plenty of candles, especially when entertaining. Remember to showcase your china in style, too! Drape boxwood pine boughs or garland over the top of the cabinet and place dried berries and ornaments inside the cabinet.

Hall and Entranceway
The entranceway is the first thing guests see when they arrive at your home, so it should be nothing short of warm and inviting. Soften hardwood and tile floors with patterned, textured rugs. Purchase a seasonal welcome mat. Fill a pedestal urn with boughs of holly, evergreen and ornaments and place it near the front door. You can also wrap empty boxes with festive paper and place them in wicker baskets. Make a splash with elaborate garlands on the main staircase. These can be purchased or created using greenery, ribbon, lights and ornaments or berries. Place a wreath or decoration on the door and tie a ribbon with bells attached to it to your door handle.

There was more on decorating the bedrooms and bathrooms but that might be a bit overboard if you ask me!  If you are interested in reading the rest of the article though, you can find it here.

Image from http://shine.yahoo.com

If You Want a Modern Look….

Pillow number and placement: Go for an odd number, like three or five, rather than more traditional pairs. A few big pillows look cleaner than a jumble of smaller ones, which can seem like “too much punctuation,” says T. Keller Donovan, an interior designer in New York City and Miami.

Shape and size: Squares should be 18 to 24 inches across, large enough to showcase a solid color or a pattern. Oblongs are a nice foil, since they’re “a little less expected,” says Katie Ridder, an interior decorator in New York City.

Fabric: A limited color palette and large geometric prints on smooth, tightly woven fabrics, like cotton and linen, work well in a modern environment. But if you love having lots of colors, take a tip that applies to all settings: “Pull them from a piece of art that’s in the room,” says Andrew Flesher, an interior designer with Gunkelman Flesher Interior Design, in Minneapolis.

Trim: Most trim is traditional, but if you want to use it, make sure it mirrors the pillow’s primary hue to “add interest but retain a solid block of color,” says Flesher.

Image from http://shine.yahoo.com

If You Want a Traditional Look….

Pillow number and placement: Two or four large pillows arranged on either side of a sofa impart a sense of symmetry and order.

Shape and size: The right size depends on how big your sofa is, but for eye-pleasing proportions, try pairing square pillows measuring 20 to 22 inches across with smaller squares or circles.

Fabric: Velvet and silk look great in a classic setting. Layering a variety of textures, patterns, and colors keeps things lively. “Sometimes more is more,” says Flesher. To help patterns such as paisleys and florals commingle without looking fussy, Donovan suggests pairing a busy pattern with a simple one, like “a complicated plaid with a large floral that’s just two or three colors.” A print and a coordinating solid will work, too.

Trim: Save the big trim, like tassel fringe, for larger pillows “to give them more oomph,” says Scott Salvator, an interior designer in New York City. Small pillows look best with slim trim, like braid or cord.

Image from http://shine.yahoo.com

If You Want an Eclectic Look….

Pillow number and placement: An even number of pillows runs counter to the spirit of an eclectic room; three or five create a pleasing asymmetry without cluttering the sofa. You want your pillows to look “as if they just happened to be there,” says Ridder. For a casual air, try two pillows in one corner with a third at the opposite end.

Shape and size: Pick similarly sized pillows to tie together a diverse collection. Generally, interior designers prefer a few large pillows―18 to 24 inches across―over a mishmash of smaller ones.

Fabric: Be open but not random. You can have a couple of pillows that match or five pillows in five different fabrics, but make sure there’s at least one color in common to give the arrangement some unity.

Trim: Avoid excess; keep trim simple and express yourself more through fabrics. Box pillows, with their square shoulders, can be attractive in an eclectic grouping and look great when edged with braid, says Leigh Anne Nomberg, an interior designer with Bill Ingram Architect, in Birmingham, Alabama.

[Via: Real Simple Magazine]

However, designer Trisha Guild who is known for her crazy bright colors, always does an amazing job while seeming to break all the rules!  Take a look at these stunning rooms from the Designer’s Guild website.  What do you think?  Think you could live in these rooms?!