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Home Decor is Looking Up

You've hung pictures on the wall, painted and faux-finished, and added all those special touches to make your room unique. But have you forgotten something? One of the easiest ways to add a touch of elegance, whimsy or style to a room is just above you: the ceiling.

The so-called "fifth wall" is an often-forgotten element in decorating, but taking advantage of that wide expanse can give drab rooms a shot of personality. A hint of color or visual interest can open up a small room, bring a lofty space down to size or capture a mood. All it takes is a few simple tools and a bit of imagination.

Add drama or whimsy to a room by incorporating unique visual elements. Murals, often thought of only for walls, can work beautifully on ceilings. Images of ethereal clouds drifting across a clear blue sky can transform a bedroom into a haven for rest and relaxation. Or give the feel of European elegance to dining rooms, hallways and foyers with frescos of the Old Masters. Companies like Murals Your Way can create custom-made images perfectly sized to fit your space. You can choose from a gallery of in-stock murals or use your own pictures for a personalized creation.

"A mural can give the feeling of living in a castle, or of exploring the great outdoors," says Todd Imholte, president of Murals Your Way. "While many people think of murals as something for the den or children's rooms, decorating the ceiling is an old idea that is being rediscovered. Imagine stepping through the font door and being greeted by a scene straight out of a European mansion. And when you can customize that scene for your personal taste and space, it's truly an original work of art."

Adding visual interest can be a painless project that transforms a room into a showplace. Ceiling medallions and molding, available at many home improvement stores, install quickly and give a dramatic flair. Most common in dinning rooms and entryways, ceiling medallions give the look of hand-made plaster ornamentation around chandeliers and other fixtures. Moldings can be custom-cut to create a casual or formal feel depending on your choice of design. Tongue-and-groove panels - often called beadboard - quickly add a relaxed cottage style to rooms. Readily available at most lumberyards, the boards come in easy-to-install sheets.

 Information provided by:

Courtesy of ARA Content

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How to Warm Up Your Winter Decor

The nip of fall is in the air and you may soon be looking for ways to ward off the emotional chill that winter can bring to your home. Short days and overcast skies can cast a shadow over even the cheeriest home décor.

But just because summer is long off, doesn't mean you have to leave the decorating season behind as well. Here are four home decorating trends to help heat up your home décor without emptying your wallet:

Color Cues

Have a room that doesn't get much sun during winter months? Brighten it with a fresh coat of paint in a color that evokes the heat of warmer months.

Designers and homeowners are turning to warm - and downright hot - colors to spice up interiors this autumn. Vibrant oranges - from tangerine to terra cotta - are a top choice this season, according to Better Homes and Gardens online. Rich reds are also popular, as is the combination of robin's egg blue and dark brown. These colors can be splashed on the walls to dominate a room's décor, or used as accents in accessories throughout the home.

Create Your Own Room with a View

Everyone wants a room with a view, but not everyone can afford to move to a great location or install picture windows throughout their home. A wall mural can turn virtually any wall in your house into a great "view." Increasingly popular among designers, today's wallpaper wall murals are easy to install for do-it-yourselfers and offer a wide range of image choices - from the quintessential '70s palm tree beach scene to contemporary cityscapes and Tuscan-themed gardens.

A mural can enhance the design theme and pay homage to purpose of virtually any room. For example, that beach scene can boost the fun level of your family's favorite play area. And a peaceful Italian grotto scene, nestled on the wall above a bathtub, can elevate your master bath's relaxation quotient. Web site MuralsYourWay.com offers hundreds of affordable, easy-to-install wallpaper murals to match any décor.

Go Green

The grass may be brown and the trees bare of leaves outdoors, but that doesn't mean you can't have plenty of green indoors. Universally recognized as the color of nature, different hues of green can be used for different effects. A gentle, pale green can be very soothing and calming - an ideal mood for a master bedroom retreat or to create an oasis-like atmosphere in a bath. Dark green can bring to mind the color of money, and makes a rich, polished statement in a home office or formal dining room.

Tune In for a Winter Tune Up

Design and home improvement magazines will probably always have a place in the lives of design-conscious homeowners, but an increasing number of do-it-yourselfers turn on the tube for their design ideas. The proliferation of home improvement, renovation and interior design shows means you have virtually instant access to the season's hottest design ideas. So prepare a cup of your favorite herbal tea, turn on the TV and watch without guilt. You're not wasting time, you're conducting important research on how to make your home a more inviting retreat for your family.

Drawing on fall's hottest design trends can help ensure your home provides warmth and welcome throughout the winter months.

Information provided by:

www.doityourself.com

Courtesy of ARA Content