Home Decor and Furnish

By Sarah H

So you need some bedroom decorating ideas for your master bedroom. It happens, we want larger spaces and then when we get them we don’t know what to do with them. Well don’t fret, you won’t have to go searching for large walk in closets or doors to fill your new space. Decorating your bedroom can be easy if you know how to make your space functional, comfortable and pleasing to you.

You can start by just having a look around. See what needs to be done or see what makes you cringe when you see it. Here’s a good tip, if your closet door is falling off the hinges and the carpet is twenty fives times darker than the original, or perhaps the room doesn’t move you like it once did then it’s probably time to think about a little redecorating.

A change of wall paper or a new coat of paint are great touch ups if you just want to spruce up the place and make a few minor changes. A new rug or change of carpet are also little things that can be done to enhance your existing décor. But if you are in a sad state of affairs you may want to start with bigger changes like the walls and flooring and then move to the furniture and furnishing.

But it is important to remember that there is a difference between making a bedroom usable and decorating it. Decorating gives that final touch of completeness. Think of it as a Christmas tree; sure just putting up a bear tree will say you celebrate Christmas, but decorating it with lights, bows, beads and the whole works will say that you love Christmas!

Decorating is all about ambiance. It is about creating a look and feel in your room rather than just having a functional bedroom. This does not mean that you have to choose a theme like a kid’s room, so men don’t fret that you’ll walk into your bedroom one day and think you’re part of Arabian Knights!

It’s more subtle, the kind of subtle elegance that you get when you walk into a hotel or a fancy restaurant. The overall ambiance in these places of calm, soothing and generally pleasing to be in but this does not diminish the functionality of the room at all. In fact it increases the usefulness of the room!

For instance, many people opt for adding a small work space in the bedroom. A desk and chair isn’t a large addition to a bedroom, but without the right integrating it could look terribly out of place. So why not go down to the office store and look at the type of shelving and other furnishings that can really make that space fit into the room. Furniture stores will also have some great ideas and catalogues for you to get great ideas from.

Framed photographs and little accents, not to mention colour coding will all give the business corner of the room a nice homely touch and not stand out so starkly from the rest of the bedroom.

Discover more great tips and ideas at Building a House a website offering resources on matters like great bedroom designs, kitchen decorating ideas and even about skylights to enhance any home.

By Cindi Collins

Bathroom is the most used room in the house. But unlike the kitchen, a well-designed, decorated, and accessorized bathroom is more than just a place for personal hygiene. With creative bathroom decorating ideas you can turn your bathroom into your own personal spa-like retreat where you can escape from the world, relax and rejuvenate yourself.

There are two main considerations for decorating a bathroom. First, if you're in an older home remodeling bathroom ideas are more challenging because older homes typically have much smaller bathrooms then homes built over the last 20 years. Still, decorating a small bathroom can often be easier because small subtle changes can have a much larger visual impact. The second consideration is the amount of money you're willing to spend.

The Details in the Budget
Whether your bathroom is large or small one thing is certain, you're going to have to spend money if you want an updated bathroom. How much money you need to spend depends to a certain extent on the size of your bathroom and how much updating you feel you need to do to give the look and feel you desire..
If you only have a couple hundred dollars to spend then generally you'll be limited to mostly cosmetic changes such as paint, hardware and accessories. Though this may not be much money to spend, don't discount the effect that a new coat of paint, some new hardware on the doors and drawers, and some additional accessories such as an inexpensive prints or new towel racks may have on your bathroom. Often that is all that is necessary to give your bathroom a very fresh and updated look.

If you're willing to spend a little more money, say $300-$600, then your budget could also include things such as shower curtains, rugs, upgraded towels, additional storage units and/or mirrors, and perhaps even additional or upgraded lighting. Throwing a beautiful rug on your bathroom floor, and adding storage units and unique mirrors can definitely change the look and feel of your bathroom. And since we all judge the quality of a hotel by the quality of their bath towels, having those plush bath towels in your own bathroom certainly goes a long way to making your bathroom feel more luxurious. Updated light fixtures can also add that additional touch of elegance that can really set your bathroom off.

Beyond this point, ideas for bathroom remodeling tend to include the more costly aspects of decorating including changing out fixtures, sinks, toilets and bathtubs, and adding additional furniture. If you're somewhat handy you may be able to replace the sink and tub faucets on your own, perhaps to the more currently popular darker oil rubbed looks or polished nickel. Beyond that, replacing sinks, vanities and bathtubs will generally require a contractor and/or plumber. You must be very careful when using a contractor since this is typically where the cost of bathroom remodeling can quickly jump by thousands and thousands of dollars.

A couple of other options available that can offer some bathroom remodeling help include simply resurfacing your bathtub instead of replacing it. Resurfacing is only a one to two day process and can generally be done for around $500 or less. Re-grouting or re-tiling walls is another option that can easily brighten the bathroom for minimal cost.

Finally, one of the newer methods of giving your bathroom an updated look is the installation of acrylic liners over your old bathtub. Your bathtub is measured to ensure a perfect fit, and an acrylic liner is molded and inserted over the old bathtub. This method can even be extended to the shower and walls and can this give your bathtub, shower and walls a totally updated and new look. Acrylic liners can cost anywhere from $700 to well up into the thousands depending how much you want to have done.

Our bathrooms, unlike many other rooms in the home, tend to be very personal to us. It's the first place we go in the morning and the last place we leave at night. We spend a lot of time in our bathrooms, and we want to come away feeling refreshed and rejuvenated. Great bathroom decorating ideas don't necessarily have to be expensive, they just need to provide a bathroom that is warm, inviting and comfortable to be in. A well designed bathroom helps us prepare for the day ahead. Update and Enjoy!

Cindi Collins is a mother, writer, and part time interior designer. If you enjoyed these decorating ideas you can find additional bathroom decorating ideas at Bathroom Remodeling Ideas.