Home Decoration

How would like to have a well-built raised garden bed right on your front yard and see the neighbors envy you! Raised bed gardening is a practical way of gardening in which the a slab of the garden is raised around 16 inches from the ground level making it easier for planting, weeding, etc. It is especially useful for gardens that have less yard space. Also, those people who can’t bend over or are wheel-chair bound can easily do gardening on a raised garden bed.

Raised garden beds are easy to maintain, easy to drain and also give the pleasure of gardening comfortably. The best part is that you can use the garden beds to grow vegetables, flowers or ornamental plants. A raised garden bed can be easily built right on your front porch or patio, which means you need not get distressed if you don’t have a garden! You can grow dahlias, roses, money plants, vegetables or spices like tomatoes, basil, carrots, lettuce, etc. Here’s how to build a raised garden bed.

• The estimated time to build a raised garden is around 2 days. You will need tools like shovel, rake, hammer, stakes and string, wheelbarrow, garden hose, gravel / soil, etc.
• Mark out the perimeter of the bed using stakes and strings or the garden hose. Next, just dig out a 2 inch trench inside that perimeter in order to recess the building material slightly into the ground. In case of an uneven ground, dig the high end deeper, so that the end result is more or less leveled. This will be helpful when you start to construct.
• You may add the top soil layer and the gravel as you gradually start to build. It depends on your design and needs as to whether you want to add it then or after building. Remember to mix the bottom layers of the added topsoil in with the native soil and add as much compost as you can at this time.
• Start building with wood by binding the pieces together with nail and screws. If you are thinking of stone slabs, you may need mortar. Some blocks come with holes for pins that can be hammered into the ground thus keeping the blocks together. The gravel will be helpful in sealing gaps and holes.
• Fill the bed with the mixed top soil, native soil and compost. Allow it to settle for at least a week before you can plant in saplings in it. Irrigation should be light and use a ‘mini water can’ for the same.

It may be on your mind right about now — just what to take and what to leave behind as you pack for college. You may have already gotten a lot of advice from your friends, your parents, your school, and your relatives.

But ultimately it’s up to you how you’ll live in your new “home away from home” and how you’ll try to decorate it. Comfort in this small space will be one way to make a tiny dorm room feel homey and inviting.

Here’s our list of items that will make any room more comfortable.

1. A big rug will soften the look and feel of hard institutional flooring and make it more inviting to lounge or exercise on the floor.

2. A featherbed mattress topper or mattress pad can really improve the comfort of a dorm bed. They’re fluffy and comfy, and available in either feathers or fiberfill.

3. Good lighting is essential. Have focused task lighting at the desk, by a chair, and near the bed, so you can read and work anywhere.

4. A comfortable place to sit is a must. It can be a side chair, loveseat, or even pile of pillows, but will be great for studying, lounging, or talking on the phone.

5. A BedLounge is a great chair-lounger-reading pillow built with an ultra-lightweight, internal Active Frame. It can support an adult’s weight and can bend, move, flex and customize itself to the user’s body shape and comfort needs. It even has a headrest and armrests. You shouldn’t go away from home without it!

6. Closet accessories are made to solve storage problems. Evaluate your space, then choose from peg racks, over-the-door shoe racks, belt and tie holders, and hanging shelves to organize your clothes and accessories.

7. Large body pillows are great for sleeping. But you can also use them to turn your bed into a “sofa” or for extra floor lounging.

8. Handled laundry and shower totes are made to organize and carry just about everything. Keep a big one on the floor of your closet to collect laundry, and use another to hold bathroom supplies. Then grab and go!

9. A large bulletin board or white board is essential for notes, photos, schedules, and assignments. It can help you get organized, show off mementos, and serve as a message center.

10. Filing space — another must-have . Whether you use a file crate or full-size cabinet, it will go a long way in organizing your completed schoolwork, letters from home, insurance papers, pay stubs, tax info, scholarship applications, and more.

11. Wall Decor can be another touch of home. Use artwork to reinforce your room theme or highlight special interests… make a collage out of favorite photos (using color photocopies)… hang favorite posters — whatever feels like “home” to you. A full length mirror is another wonderful convenience. Use it to check your outfit and decorate the edges with photos, tickets, and memorabilia.

Make a dorm room your “own” and you’ll love living there! You might not even miss Mom’s cooking so much!

Dorm Room Decorating Ideas
Summer is here and college students everywhere will soon be headed back to school. And besides worrying about classes, schedules, clothes, and transportation, now they’ve got to think about decorating a dorm room as well.

Confused? Overwhelmed? Excited? You’re not alone! Read on — help is a few clicks away with these articles from About.

Where can you buy dorm room decor?
Some online stores cater primarily to students , while others offer a general selection of merchandise as well as special dorm decorating departments in the summer.

There are also many other websites that have interesting products , storage solutions, and bedding patterns that may also fit your budget and decorating desires.

Ready to begin? Grab a tall cool glass of lemonade, and window shop to your heart’s content.

Hold off buying anything until you have a good idea of your space limitations, any prohibited items (check with your school), and until you have an overall plan in mind for the room. You’ll find some really helpful dorm room advice from a mom with two college kids in our article on dorm room organization.

In the meantime, check out some of these sites to see some of the colorful, functional, and fun products designed especially for students.

Bed Bath & Beyond - Shop in their summer “Shop for College” section with products categorized for sleeping, washing, eating, and studying. Take advantage of the a handy “pack and hold” service so you can buy it now and have it shipped directly to school as soon as they will accept your packages. What a great idea!

Even if you’re not a Martha Stewart fan you may like these coordinated collections of bedding and bath products, including fresh plaids, solids, and prints.

Having a baby can be an exciting time in your life, but with this responsibilty, also comes the responsibility of making the baby comfortable. This article provides you with all the information you need to know about baby furniture, including changing tables. Whether you decide to build the furniture yourself, or even just buying the furniture, this section can help you. The article is here to help you make the right decisions, from purchasing the piece of furniture to the assembly and more, while giving you the tips, tricks and advice needed.

Changing Tables
Your hospital bag is packed, you have a great crib for the baby, your friends have laden you with baby clothes, and all you need is a proper changing table for the baby’s nursery and you will have a well planned and designed children’s room. Look out: there are many design choices involved and perhaps more decorating decisions to be made for when decorating kids’ rooms than you’d thought possible. But with a little research, you can find a changing table that suits both the decor of Baby’s room, the needs of Baby - and the needs of Mom.

The first decision to make is what you want under the table. Changing tables come in models with drawers under the table, or with open shelves on which you can put baskets. It may not seem obvious to the first-time Mom, but you want several items easily accessible to you: diapers, wipes, powder, cream, and clothing, for starters. You’ll also make changing time easier if you can hang a distracting toy by the changing table.

The drawback to a changing table with drawers is that you’ll have to pull them open, which is certainly manageable, but gives you one more thing to consider while you’re holding Baby onto the table with one hand and opening a diaper with the other. You’ll get the hang of it, but at first you may feel more like you’ve joined the circus than that you’ve become a mother.

The drawback to the open shelves is that they’ll look messier. Don’t for a minute think they’ll look the way they do in the glossy interior design catalogs, unless you have a team of nannies, maids and footmen at your service. However, reaching into a basket with one hand while pinning Baby to the table with the other is easier than opening those drawers.

Other tables make use of the space under the table with a removable hamper for the dirty diapers, and some have a set of steps that fold into the table when not in use, so that a toddler can climb onto the table, making changing time less of a fight and more of an adventure when Baby is bigger.

Of course, safety is the most important consideration in choosing a table for a baby’s room. Some tables have a rail around the top to prevent Baby from taking a tumble should Mom forget to hang on for a moment. Others have no rail, and are meant to be used with a curved changing pad which also helps keep Baby on the table. Others have straps, which you can also buy separately and put on yourself.

It probably goes without saying, but we’ll repeat it here: when changing Baby, you should never turn your back. Even one second Baby is left unattended on a changing table can mean tragedy.

Finally, consider something that will seem utterly untrue during Baby’s diaper years: eventually, Baby will no longer need diapers, and you will no longer need that changing table. So start putting into action a major principle of decorating children’s rooms that should stay with you through all your child’s years: buy with an eye to the future of the furniture. A changing table with drawers easily transforms into a child’s dresser, and later, into a small chest of drawers for linens. A table with baskets can be changed into a bookshelf, or a shelf for the kitchen, or a handy place to keep toys and art supplies for Junior. If you plan your interior decorating with an eye toward versatility, the furnishings you buy for the room will last for decades.

If you’re on a budget, you can find some savings by getting a table that requires some amount of assembly, or you can even get design plans for decorating kids’ rooms so you can build one yourself.

Tip: Try out the changing table in the furniture store as best you can, by standing in front of it and checking the height. You don’t want to have to bend over the table too much, so that you can save your back for the heavy lifting necessary the rest of the day.

Create an instant antique with this decoupage-under-glass technique.For our project, we copied pages from an old book. (Any book more than 75 years old makes a good source for material because the copyright has expired.) But consider other sources as well: old family photographs, children’s artwork, and special letters.

Cost: 30-inch-diameter glass tabletop, about $20

Time: About a day

Skill Level: Beginner

What You Need:

• Glass table round
• Items to photocopy
• Acrylic paints
• PVA adhesive (available at art supply stores)
• White spray paint
• Polyurethane
• Grease pencil
• Crafts knife
• Paintbrush
• Access to a photocopier

Instructions:

1. Make photocopies. Enlarge and reduce to vary the size.2. Plan the layout. Cut and position the photocopies on a work surface. Play around with the shapes until you’re happy with the layout. Then, lay your glass table round on top of the layout. Using a grease pencil, sketch the location of each piece on the front of the glass.

3. Add color. Tint the trimmed black-and-white photocopies as desired with a wash of water-thinned acrylic paint. Experiment with combinations of colors and the opacity of the wash. Let dry. Or, consider using color photocopies.

4. Position and secure. Glue photocopies in place on the underside of the glass using a PVA adhesive. Use your grease pencil marks as placement guides. Brush glue on the front of the photocopies, place on glass, and secure by rubbing with a smooth, round object such as a spoon. Allow the outer edges of the photocopies to extend over the edge of the glass; you’ll trim the excess later. Complete the tabletop, then let glue dry.

5. Trim. After all photocopies are in place, turn glass over. Trim excess pieces of photocopies along the glass edge using a crafts knife.

6. Finish coats. Secure masking tape to the edge of the glass table. Spray the back of the glass with white spray paint. Let dry. Brush on a coat of polyurethane. Remove masking tape. Let dry for several days before using.

It’s late fall. The sky is blue, and the sun is bright. Then your local weather forecaster ruins everything with these chilling words: “Possible frost tonight.” Once the initial panic subsides, reason sets in. Frost is a local event, and it’s possible to predict with considerable certainty whether it will hit the plants in your garden. So relax, walk outside, and pay attention to these six signs to predict the likelihood of frost. Then, if necessary, spring into action.
Look skyward. Clear, calm skies and falling afternoon temperatures are usually the perfect conditions for frost. Frost (also called white or hoarfrost) occurs when air temperatures dip below 32F and ice crystals form on the plant leaves, injuring and sometimes killing tender plants. However, if temperatures are falling fast under clear, windy skies — especially when the wind is out of the northwest — it may indicate the approach of a mass of polar air and a hard freeze. A hard, or killing, frost is based on movements of large air masses. The result is below-freezing temperatures that generally kill all but the most cold-tolerant plants.

But if you see clouds in the sky — especially if they are lowering and thickening — you’re in luck. Here’s why. During the day, the sun’s radiant heat warms the earth. After sunset, the heat radiates upward, lowering temperatures near the ground. However, if the night is overcast, the clouds act like a blanket, trapping heat and keeping air temperatures warm enough to prevent frost.

Feel the breeze. Wind also influences the likelihood of frost. In the absence of wind, the coldest air settles to the ground. The temperature at plant level may be freezing, even though at eye level it is above freezing. A gentle breeze, however, will prevent this settling, keep temperatures higher, and save your plants. Of course, if the wind is below freezing, you’ll probably have fried green tomatoes for tomorrow’s supper.

Check the moisture. Just as clouds and gentle winds are your friends, so are humidity and moisture. When moisture condenses out of humid air, it releases heat. Not much heat, true, but perhaps enough to save the cleomes. If the air is dry, though, the moisture in the soil will evaporate. Evaporation requires heat, so this process removes warmth that could save your peppers.

Check your garden’s location. This can have a tremendous influence on the likelihood that early frost could wipe out your garden while leaving your next-door neighbor’s untouched. For example, as a general rule, temperature drops 3F to 5F with every 1,000-foot increase in altitude. The higher your garden, the colder the average air temperature and the more likely your plants will be hit by an early freeze. So gardening on a hilltop isn’t a great idea, but neither is gardening at the lowest spot on your property. Since cold air is heavier than warm air, it tends to sink to the lowest area, causing frost damage. The best location for an annual garden is on a gentle south-facing slope that’s well heated by late-afternoon sun but protected from blustery north winds. A garden surrounded by buildings or trees or one near a body of water is also less likely to be frosted.

Scrutinize the soil. Your garden’s soil type can affect the amount of moisture it holds and the plants’ ability to withstand cold weather. Deep, loose, heavy, fertile soil releases more moisture into the surrounding air than thin, sandy, or nutrient-poor soil. The more humid the air, the higher the dew point and the less likely that frost will form on those plants. Heavily mulched plants are more likely to be frosted, since mulch prevents moisture and heat in the soil from escaping and warming the surrounding air. (Light-colored mulches such as hay or straw have the additional disadvantage of reflecting sunlight and heat during the day.)

Know your plants. The plant itself determines the likelihood of frost damage. Immature plants still sporting new growth into the fall are most susceptible — especially the new growth. Frost tolerance tends to be higher in plants with maroon or bronze leaves, because such leaves absorb and retain heat. Downy- or hairy-leaved plants also retain heat and reduce wind-drying of the leaves. Compact plants expose a smaller proportion of their leaves to cold and drying winds. By the same token, closely spaced plants protect each other.

What’s a Gardener To Do
So you’ve checked the weather conditions and decide that, yes, Jack Frost is coming and protecting your plants is worthwhile. You’ll want to do two things: First, cover your plants, both to retain as much soil heat and moisture as possible and to protect them against strong winds, which can hasten drying and cooling. Use almost anything to cover plants: newspapers, bushel baskets, plastic tarps, straw, or pine boughs. Spun-bonded fabric row covers will protect plants down to 30F, polyethylene row covers to 28F. Cover the whole plant before sunset to trap any remaining heat. Lightweight coverings such as row covers and newspaper should be anchored to prevent them from blowing away.

Second, keep the soil moist by watering your plants the day the frost is predicted. Commercial fruit and vegetable growers even leave sprinklers on all night to cover plants with water. As the water freezes, it releases heat, protecting the plants, even though they’re covered in ice. To prevent damage, the sprinklers need to run continuously as long as temperatures remain below freezing.

And as you survey your garden’s fading glory, you may take heart from the experience of John Loudon, a 19th-century British horticulturist. Loudon stuck four stakes into a plot of grass to support a cambric handkerchief 6 inches above the surface and found that the temperature beneath it remained 9F warmer than the temperature of the surrounding air. Yes, you can beat the frost — at least for a few nights.

Do Consider Dew
The dew point is the temperature at which the air is totally saturated with moisture. Television and radio meteorologists may state the dew point temperature during routine forecasts.

The more moisture the air contains, the higher the temperature will be when the moisture starts to condense as dew, producing heat. And, obviously, the higher the temperature, the less chance of frost. For example, a dew point of 43F almost certainly means no frost that night.
Interestingly enough, frost is more likely to form on a dry evening when the air temperature is a warmish 50F and the dew point is a low 33F than when the air temperature is a cooler 43F and the dew point is 41F.

Create a themed bridal shower that the bride will love.
From the magazine, Simply Creative Weddings

By the Book…
Being a bridesmaid is an honor — and a lot of work. One of the biggest jobs is hosting a prewedding party that your friend, the bride, will love.

The best bridal showers take their cue from the personal taste of the bride. Is she the outdoorsy type or a bookworm? Would she prefer a mountain of lingerie or a library of special edition books?

If she’s the latter, you can take a novel approach by incorporating a book theme into your pretty-in-pink party.

Find more pink party ideas in this article. And, check out our Bridal Shower Tips article as well, using the link below.DecorationsPretty in Pink
Pink and green set the scene for the oh-so-important prewedding party. Cover utilitarian tables with easy-to-make linen tablecloths.

Circles and rings cut from decorative card stock shower the room in polka dots. (For hanging, fishing wire is sandwiched and glued between the circles.)

The no-sew chair covers mimic an elegant wedding veil and are fashioned from two yards of white tulle caught up in a pink tulle bow.

Avoid the expense of professional floral arrangements by using a creative container. For centerpieces, we filled the bottoms of large glass bubble vases with candied almonds, then placed a cylinder vase toting a small bundled bouquet inside.

Take Your Seat
Simple paper and vellum circles tucked inside dahlia petals reveal guests’ names, above. Ribbon markers tucked inside purchased journals display each guest’s initials — another clue to seat designations and a thoughtful guest favor.

The napkin at each setting displays the bride’s monogram and becomes a sweet gift just launder after the shower and present the set to her.

Menu IdeasTasty Treats

Make-ahead appetizers make shower day more relaxed. Serving food buffet-style establishes a casual atmosphere, encouraging guests to chat. You’ll save time and money, and partygoers will appreciate the variety.

With loads of fresh produce nestled in a pesto cream cheese spread, Open-Face Sandwiches add big bursts of color to the buffet.

Antipasto Kabobs
Serve up meats, cheeses, and vegetables kabob-style, and you’re sure to please even the most finicky eater. These no-cook Antipasto Kabobs are easy to make, easy to serve, and easy to eat.

To serve, cut plastic foam to fit inside a dish, stick in the kabobs, and cover the foam with candy. Keep the kabobs refrigerated until it’s time to serve.

Punch
Strawberry-Lime Punch

To maximize table space, use a pedestal to give refreshments a lift. Our punch bowl also can serve as a platter when turned upside down.

Our punch bowl is decorating with an ice ring of strawberries and limes and pairs nicely with appetizers as well as dessert.

Raspberry Cheesecake Tarts
A simple white serving dish makes a striking presentation when topped with Raspberry Cheesecake Tarts.

Floral place mats keep tabletops interesting. Use purchased mats that coordinate, or make your own from decorative papers you’ve laminated at a copy shop.

Blinds and shades are used to block light from the sun that may cause furniture or flooring to fade. Guidelines are provided for choosing the right blinds or shades for your home.

Choosing Between Blinds or Shades
Windows of every conceivable size and type have opened up a wide array of decorating possibilities and elevated them to an important status in every room. Window treatments have followed suit, and today there are many options for designer looks. Shades and blinds, once rather unglamorous, functional necessities for providing window coverage have come a long way. Vertical, fabric blinds adorn large windows for a light and airy look and can be rotated for privacy when desired. The latest styles in Venetian blinds afford privacy and can be opened at various angles to allow light in. Many of the more inexpensive mini-blinds are available in a variety of pastels and bright colors, especially appealing for children’s rooms and other casual areas.

Others, such as wooden blinds with wider slats lend a sophisticated air. When combined with other window treatments, such as a valance, the top of the blind and its hardware are hidden, giving a clean natural look.

Shades have come a long way from the standard white pull-down variety. Designed in billows and folds, such as the popular balloon shade, these window coverings can be made in any fabric to complement decor.

The most important basic consideration for shades and blinds is proper measuring of the window. Shades may be installed with an inside or outside mounts. Inside mounts are inside the window frame while outside mounts cover the window and more if necessary, giving the window a larger appearance than it is. Be sure to use a steel, not a cloth, tape measure. Once the window is completed, it will become as enjoyable as your favorite furnishings

Fashionable Horizontal Blinds
Think horizontal blinds are tired and boring? Not so! Today’s horizontal blinds are more fashionable than ever, thanks to a wide assortment of colors that allow them to fit virtually any decor.

In addition, many of the products available on the market today come with sleek-looking headrails and other attractive features that make them a perfect product for a homeowner looking to block out light and gain privacy.

Hunter Douglas Window Fashions, for instance, has introduced a Lightlines horizontal blind. It has an exclusive deLight feature that blocks out the light that ordinary horizontal blinds do not. The new Lightlines product hides the rout holes typically associated with horizontal blinds. The absence of the rout holes not only keeps out the light, but also makes for a more aesthetically pleasing product.

Love the thought of horizontal blinds but hate the thought of dust? There are now products on the market that address that problem. Levolor Home Fashions, for instance, features DustGuard as an option on its horizontal blinds. DustGuard is a special patented process that neutralizes the forces of static electricity to resist dust and other airborne particles.

Springs Window Fashions Division Inc., meanwhile, has introduced an aluminum blind system that features improvements in operation and appearance. The new blind, known as the Graber Ultimate Supreme, includes an All-In-One cord that allows the user to raise, lower and tilt blinds evenly, a lift tape that is much thinner than traditional cords for improved slat closure, and a new light-blocking headrail.

For assistance in choosing horizontal blinds or other types of window covering products, see an independently owned decorating center near you.

Decorating with and around your carpet is very important. This section of provides you with all the information you need to know ranging from everything from carpet textures to creating the right atmosphere with your carpet.Floor Covering Will Be More Dramatic

Deep colors, pattern-on-pattern and lots of texture are this year’s big flooring story. According to a story in Paint & Decorating Retailer, the magazine of the Paint & Decorating Retailers Association, manufacturers are offering a variety of interesting flooring options to a public that seems ready to embrace them.

Patterned sisal carpets and cut piles, vinyl floors that reproduce marble, stone and other natural elements, and multi-fabric area rugs are current best-sellers. Also big are combinations of these flooring types, creating more pattern yet.

In the past, patterned carpets have been the domain of commercial applications. But the products are inching their way into homes as well.

Manufacturers are showing plaids, geometrics, ribbons, floral and leaf patterns, and other interesting configurations this year. Some of the styles are richly colored; others feature only one color but are heavily texturized.

Resilient flooring, meanwhile, is reproducing Mother Nature with deeply veined marble, granite and stone looks, “plank-wood” flooring and other natural-appearing styles. Within these styles, deep greens, navies and even black colorations are popular.

The product also is being used with carpet, area rugs, ceramic tile, brick and stone, creating more pattern on pattern.

And what about area rugs? Many current styles feature a blending of fabrics to create interesting styles. Braided rugs are a prime example. Rather than using solid-color yarns, many modern braided rugs employ a variety of different fabrics from wools to cottons and blends. And they come in patterns and colors to coordinate with any decor.

What’s next? Expect more pattern as printing and fabricating processes improve, says PDRA, and consumers become more accepting.

The choice of color depends on whether you want the room to feel Warmer or Cooler, more Spacious or more Cozy.

It also depends on how much emphasis you want to place on the floor.

• Are your furnishings and accessories really interesting? If so, you will want to draw attention to them and soft-pedal the background walls and floor. You can underplay the floor by making it plain and having its color be neutral, or dulled with gray.
• Are your furnishings sparse or uninteresting? Then you can draw attention away from them by doing something dramatic on the walls or floor. You can emphasize the floor with a patterned carpet, or with bright or bold colors.

Choosing Warm Or Cool Or Neutral Colors

What’s the climate? What’s the exposure of the room? Northern and Eastern exposures are complimented by Warm colors. Southern and Western exposures are complimented by Cool colors.

• To make the room feel Warmer, choose a color in the fire family–anything from yellow-orange to a bluish red.
• To make the room feel Cooler, choose a color that reminds you of water–anything from blue to yellow-green.

Do you have a pleasant view outdoors? If you bring the colors of the outdoors in, you will create an Indoor/ Outdoor expansive effect.

Will this room be seen from another room? Do you want a sense of connection with the adjacent room, or a sense of separation? One continuous floor covering will link adjacent rooms, make them flow into one another. Different flooring or different floor colors will serve to separate the rooms even more.

Who will use the room? What colors are flattering to them? What colors do they like?

Do you have a pet? Does it shed? If you choose a carpet in a color similar to your pet’s hair, you won’t have to vacuum as much.

What furnishings do you have that you will use in the room? Wood tones swear with some colors, and swing with others. Before you make any final decision about the colors of your room, hold swatches or chips of the colors you’re considering next to your woods to see how they look together.

Choosing Light, Dark, or Medium Colors

• Light colors create a SPACIOUS effect; dark colors, a COZY effect. Medium shades don’t alter your sense of space.
• Is the room too light and bright or too dark? Dark or dulled colors will absorb light; light ones will reflect and multiply light.
• How much wear will this room get? And what kind?
  Medium colors are EASY TO CLEAN.
  Light colors show soil easily and dark colors show lint. It would be frustrating to do your sewing in a room with a dark rug.
• It is normal to put on the floor a color at least slightly darker than the walls. It’s simply observing the weight of gravity.

A cautionary note: A large carpet will look darker at home.

A floor is a large area, and a whole floor of carpet will intensify the color, making it seem darker than the small sample. You may wish to select a carpet color one shade lighter than your target color in order to compensate for this.

Choosing Bright, Muted, or Dull Colors

What will go on in this room? How long will you stay in this room at a time? Do you see this room as a restful retreat, or as a play space? Do you want the mood to be Stimulating or Calm?

Of course, bright colors are stimulating. Colors dulled with a little gray are softer, easier to live with for extended periods of time.

How much wear will the carpeting get? Muted, dull, or neutral colors will camouflage dirt.

Temperatures are finally starting to cool off and the first flakes have already taken flight in some northern cities. If you haven’t started putting up your holiday decorations yet, now’s the time to come up with a plan. A good place to start is by deciding where to set up the tree this year. If you want to follow tradition, choose the most popular room in the house. For Kathleen Matthews of Ambler, Pa., a suburb of Philadelphia, that’s not the living room, family room, or kitchen but the sunroom.

“We have a small house and about five years ago, we decided to turn our deck into a sunroom we could use all year round. Now we spend more time there than any other room in the house so it only made sense to start setting up our holiday displays in there,” she says.

That first year, they rearranged the furniture so the tree would be the focal point when someone walked into the sunroom or drove up to the house — the sunroom is next to the driveway. “Our display has been growing by leaps and bounds ever since,” she says.

This year Matthews has transformed her 12-foot-by-20-foot sunroom into a Winter Wonderland. The windows are covered from top to bottom with press-on snowflakes; white twinkle lights hang from the gables on the roof; the bookshelves are covered with snowmen and angels she has collected over the years. Not only does the display light up the Matthews’ house, because it’s in an all-glass room, it spreads the joy of the season through the entire neighborhood.

“The sunroom is right off the kitchen so it’s easy for us to do our holiday entertaining in there,” she says, “and because it’s so decked out, all of our friends and family really enjoy spending time in there.”

According to a recent survey, nearly 70 percent of homeowners who currently have a sunroom consider it an extremely important living space. Of homeowners who do not have a sunroom, 64 percent say they’d like to have one.

“Not only do they provide an affordable way to add to your living space, they make it possible for you to enjoy the outdoors any time you want,” says Matt Manfred, president of Betterliving of the Delaware Valley, the company that built the Matthews’ sunroom. “With a glass enclosure on your patio or deck, it doesn’t matter if it’s raining or snowing — or a beautiful autumn day — you can enjoy the glory of all of the seasons in comfort.”

Organize your photos now and you’ll have more time for making photo-worthy memories.

The Photo Challenge
You’ve conquered desk disarray, shoe-closet stampedes, and kids’ clutter. You’re well on the way to a full year of succeeding in that New Year’s resolution to get organized!

Next stop: those drawers stuffed with photo-center envelopes, loose negatives, and stuck-together prints of people you can’t identify.

It never fails: You develop a roll of film, flip through the photos a couple of times, and toss them aside, intending to sort them in the future.

Later, when you’re on the hunt for a particular snapshot, you paw through overwhelming stacks of photos littered throughout the house or shoved into desk drawers, but the image you’re searching for seems to have disappeared.

The next time you pick up your developed film, spend an evening sorting the photos right away. Make it a family event — share laughs and reminisce about that shot of the dog eating your son’s birthday cake — and you’ll be on the right track for keeping those precious memories safe, organized, and easily accessible.

Sorting Tips
Invest in a large set of matching photo albums and photo boxes. This will make it easy to organize your photos over the years.

Go over photos when you first receive them.

While you sort, record an identifying description, such as the date or who’s in the photo, on the back of each photo.

Write on photo paper with a light touch, and make certain you use an acid-free, photo-safe pencil or pen (available at art-supply and crafts stores).

Don’t keep bad exposures, blurry shots, or bloopers you won’t look at again. Throw away any photos you’d rather not remember.

Nab your favorites to put in an album or frame right away; pick out images to give to friends.

Make a list of any reprints or enlargements you need and take it to the photo store next time you’re out and about.

Boxing Options
Box It Up
You can use specially made photo boxes to create a filing system. Transfer prints from the photo-center packets to less bulky acid-free envelopes.

Clearly label each envelope with dates and any other identifying description — Road trip to Yellowstone or Christmas 2004, for instance. Then separate the envelopes into specific categories for storage.

Label tabbed dividers to further organize into subcategories, perhaps by year or family member.

The key is to create categories that will fit all of your photos and that you’ll remember when the time comes to search out that certain shot.

Tips to Protect Photos
Handle with Care
To protect your precious photos, keep these points in mind:

Temperature, humidity, and light affect photos. Stash stored photos and photo albums away from sunlight in a cool, dry area.
Hang framed photos on a wall that won’t get the direct sunlight that fades photos quickly. Or use blinds and draperies to control the light.
Avoid storing photos in basements or attics, where temperatures and humidity fluctuate.Oils on your fingers degrade photos and negatives, so handle them by the edges only. For additional protection, wear clean white cotton gloves.
Paper clips, rubber bands, glue, and tape shouldn’t come in contact with photos, unless specifically designed as safe for photos.

Plastic pages, bags, and boxes that aren’t acid-free may release harmful vapors that permanently damage photos. These plastic products are considered safe: Polypropylene, Polyethylene, Mylar, Tyvek, and Cellulose Triacetate. Before you buy, check labels on photo boxes, mats, and albums to make sure they’re acid-free and photo safe.

Always frame photos using acid-free matting materials.
Keep photos away from wood, plywood, chipboard, rubber cement, animal glue, shellac, contact cement, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), pressure sensitive tape, and porous marking pens.

Adhesives may chemically interact with images and ruin the photos if you try to remove them from an album at a later date. Use only specially made acid-free glue sticks, markers, and corners on your photos.

Going Digital
Label and Backup
Even if you’re not handling negatives or reprints, you still need to organize and protect your digital photos. Develop a system for storing digital images and stick with it.

Label digital photos the moment you upload them onto your computer. Assign each image a specific name and date you’ll recognize. It may help to begin each file name consistently (OurWeddingOct04-cake003.jpg), following with a more descriptive title and a photo number.

Categorize digital photos into folders and subfolders on your hard drive. Or use software designed to archive images into computerized photo albums.

Protect digital files from menacing computer viruses and unreliable technology by backing up your image files or burning them to CDs.