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For a lot of us, redecorating the kitchen is a frightening prospect. The idea of new cabinets, new appliances, and new floors sounds (and is) incredibly expensive. But, by following a few simple steps, it is easy to decorate your kitchen on a tight budget.
Two classic design styles for the kitchen are:
French Country Design
This style is rather rustic. You should aim for comfortable and relaxed. Furniture should look distressed. The design brings a lot of outside elements to the indoors. Yellows are most predominate, but greens, blues, or reds are often supplemental. Stick with dark wood; that has a heavy grain ,or a whitewashed look. Roosters are very common in French décor.
Tuscan Design
This style involves a lot of natural elements. Floors should be a stone material. Incorporate lots of brick- i.e. around the fireplace, backsplash, and oven. Plaster walls. Woods should be a dark stain and distressed. Table should be wood. Lighting fixtures should be iron. Incorporate olives and grapes in the art work design. Marble or copper is great for the countertops
Now, the average Jane can not brick the kitchen, or splurge for marble countertops. Most classic designs are not for the frugal spender. Cheap home decoration alternatives are needed.
The most current trends in kitchen décor is turning largely to green ideas, appliances, and living. Bamboo is a popular flooring choice. Storage is a must. People want a storage place for everything. Everything from spices, to appliances, have their own hide aways Personalized and bold color palette backsplashes are popular.
Again, how many people can afford these kitchen trends. One of the most costly kitchen elements is the kitchen cabinets. Yet, the trend is to create more cabinets; that are even more detailed. But, who says that you have to follow any trend , or décor resume. Create your own style, and save money doing it. So, here are a few tips for cheap home decorations, that are still stylish.
- Venetian plaster is a great alternative to actual plaster walls.
- Instead of buying new cabinets, stain them. Dark stains can leave more room for error, than light stains.
- Change the hardware. Sometimes just updating the hardware can give new life to cabinets.
- Create your own custom paint. Play around and mix colors. Use a sponge or rag to apply the paint, for a custom look.
- Hit the flea market, salvage store, etc, for furniture. In many themes, the furniture is supposed to look aged or distressed.
- Use sideboards and other old furniture as an alternative to additional cabinets.
- Incorporate natural elements into the design, that can replace expensive art work. For example, frame an olive branch. Find a unique wine bottle or oblong bottle, and fill with: colorful olives, citrus fruits, or peppers. Then, fill to the top with olive oil.
- Ask the flooring store if they have remnant pieces of flooring and counter top. This will be cheaper than a custom cut.
- Do the installations or prep work yourself.
- Look appliances with dents. Often a stove may have a small scratch or dent that can easily be fixed, or that will be hidden in the design.
These are some cheaper home decoration ideas. However, get creative. Incorporate anything that you can reuse, get cheap, or have readily available. Your imagination is the only limit for how you design a kitchen that fits your style and budget.

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Home Decorating With A Nautical Theme

by admin on July 23, 2009

For centuries now, images of the high seas and the wealth of treasures that they contain have graced the dens and living rooms of countless homes. There is just something that is very calming and relaxing about looking at a beautiful seascape. The popularity of nautical decor has been growing through the years, with many stores now specializing in providing unique nautical-themed merchandise to their customers.
Nautical decor can consist of just about anything that relates to the sea. Many individuals incorporate items relating to boats and ships into their decor, such as anchors, bells, and ship clocks. Others opt to primarily utilize those types of items that relate to the water, such as seashells, fish, and beach rocks. There isn’t a wrong way to arrange decorative nautical items and each arrangement should reflect the personal style of the people living in the home.
Decorative Lighthouses
Lighthouses are one of the most popular items found in nautical themed decor. They come in all shapes, sizes, and colors to blend with any decorator’s scheme. Many decorative lighthouses are used as small statuettes and figurines that are displayed on shelves or in curio cabinets. Individuals can also purchase birdhouses or wind chimes that are designed to look like a lighthouse. A number of companies even create lighthouse items meant to be used in the kitchen, such as cookie jars, sugar canisters, salt and pepper shakers, and napkin rings. There are also lighthouse planters that can be purchased to hold your favorite plants.
Many artists create beautiful lighthouse paintings, photographs, and silk screens that can be displayed in the home or office. These art pieces come in many different styles, classes, and price ranges. A unique lighthouse painting can cost anywhere from $100 for a small piece created by an up and coming artist to many thousands of dollars for a large work done by a master artist.
Nautical Themed Fabrics
Nautical themed printed fabrics are also very popular in nautical decor themed homes. These prints are available from most major manufacturers and can be used for nearly anything. It is not uncommon to find nautical themed curtains, bed sheets, comforters, and rugs in many homes that are implementing a nautical theme. These prints can also be found on towels, shower curtains, table cloths, and cloth napkins. Far less common are couches, loveseats, chairs, and ottomans covered in a nautical print, but they are commonly covered in one of the few colors associated with nautical decor, such as white or navy blue.
So whether you have the heart of a sailor or just enjoy the visions of the sea, there are many types of nautical themed decor that can be used to decorate your home. Choosing the right items is simply a matter of personal preference and should reflect your own unique style and personality. With the vast amount of nautical decor pieces available at retail stores, finding the items you like should be relatively easy.

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