JUNE BUG DIY: PET ROCKS FOR THE GARDEN

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Looking for a fun activity that gets your little June bugs out of the house? Here’s an exercise that by combining paint, stones, and a little creativity will literally rock their socks off. Let’s get ready to turn some ordinary rocks into cute ladybugs!

Bonus: It will be the perfect addition to your already blooming gardens this summer.

Painting Ladybug Rocks

Here’s what you’ll need:

Stones

Paint – Red, Black, and White

Brushes – Small and Medium Flats or Rounds

Optional – Chalk, Felts Circles

Find the Perfect Stone

• River stones create the best canvas for painting our favorite tiny summer bugs. Can’t find a stone in your backyard that is suitable enough? Head over to your nearest Michaels or local arts and crafts store; they have an excellent selection.

Prepare the Surface

• Once, you’ve selected the perfect stone, ensure that it’s washed and dried; now it’s ready to go! Grab some white paint and paint your rock; this will be used as your base coat. This step makes the red to appear brighter.

Get Ready to Paint!

• Grab your brushes, it’s time to paint! Apply 2 coats of red paint to the entire surface of the rock (you might need to apply more until you get full coverage). Let the paint dry. After the paint has dried use a chalk and draw a curved line for the head and then an additional line for the wings. Grab your black paint and paint the head (might require 2 or more coats), then paint over the chalked wing line.
• Now it’s time to give our lady friend some spots! Use a small round brush to apply these, or for more fun let the kids dip their fingertips into the paint and place them directly on the rock.  

• Give your ladybug some eyes by using chalk to draw a line down the center of the face (this helps creates an even placement). Once, this is done use small round felt pieces to trace the eyes or you can free hand this part by using white paint to draw circles instead. All you have to do is wait for your creation to dry.

Location, Location, Location!  

• Now, that your ladybug is dry; it’s time to find it a home. Admire this cutie the entire summer by placing it in the garden or in a grassy area. Other placement options include your window sills (bedroom, kitchen, or bathroom) or use these adorable June bugs to decorate your entryway!

Tip: Encourage the kids to use their creativity by opting for different colors to paint your ladybugs. With a little creativity and imagination, these mini bugs can be pink, blue, yellow or even orange!

FURNITURE DELIVERY: FIVE STEPS TO SUCCESS

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You've researched your options, shopped until you dropped and now it’s time to have your new furniture delivered! So what needs to be done ahead of your furniture delivery? Read on for five steps to success.

1. Measure, Measure, Measure

Hopefully you measured your space before ordering your furniture! However, you’ll need to take a few more measurements before the delivery truck arrives. Assess the width and ceiling height of all doorways and hallways your furniture will need to traverse. If applicable, also measure the width of stairways including handrails. If using an elevator to deliver furniture, make sure to measure it, too. Next, measure the width, depth and height of your new furniture pieces—these measurements should be less than the widths and heights of the doorways leading to the room where your furniture will reside. Be prepared to remove any doors if necessary, and it’s not a bad idea to also have a backup plan in place. For instance, if you have large French doors in the back of your home, it might make more sense to bring a sectional through that threshold as opposed to the front door.

2. Dispose of old furniture

Make sure your old furniture has been removed from the room. Otherwise, the delivery team won’t have anywhere to set up your new furniture and it might be left lingering in a hall. What fun is that? There are several organizations that will gladly take your donated furniture and some might even pick it up at no charge. A quick internet search will help you locate the organizations that serve your area

3.  Clear the Clutter

In addition to removing your old furniture, you should clear out all pass-through areas. This includes not only accent tables and storage pieces in the halls, but also artwork and pictures hung on the walls. If possible, you should also secure low-hanging light fixtures. You might be surprised how easily your decorative items can hinder a successful delivery.

4. Secure your pets

Your door will need to be left open as the furniture is brought in, so be sure to secure your pets in a different area of the home. This is crucial—not only because Fluffy or Fido could escape, but also because they could pose a tripping hazard for the delivery team. And while it’s common sense, the same applies for small children!

5. Protect floors/secure area rugs

Speaking of tripping hazards, you should remove or secure area rugs and door mats. And, while our team takes every precaution to protect your floors from dirty footprints, it can’t hurt to shield your floors with drop cloths or paperboard that has been secured with low-adhesive tape.

Do you have any additional tips for preparing your home for a furniture delivery? Let us know in the comments—we’d love to hear them!

5 Smart Dining Room Apartment Decorating Ideas

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Whether it's the site for a dinner party of 12 or homework for one, the dining room can be many things to many people.

photography by MICHEL ARNAUD

Creating a comfortable dining room in a small apartment can be challenging. Try these tricks of the trade and you'll find your tiny dining room has never looked bigger.

photography by MELANIE ACEVEDO

Lighter look
Instead of a massive hutch that towers over the room, consider keeping dishware on a slender side table. This one, with mirrored shelves, makes things airy and bright, and the table lamp is cozier than a scene-stealing chandelier.

photography by MAX KIM-BEE

Clear solution
The reality is that when you're in a small space, furniture needs to step into double-duty roles. A table can be used for dining and working from home. A "Louis Ghost" chair avoids cluttering an already compact space centered on a heavy table

photography by MIGUEL FLORES-VIANNA

Repurposing an awkward space
It's a dining room, it's a library, it's your own personal reading room. An unused area that feels like a glorified corridor can be converted to a cozy multi-use space by adding shelves for books and art and a table for entertaining.

photography by ANNIE SCHLECHTER

Expanding horizons
Tables that expand are compact in close quarters but extendable when you need to spread out your work or add bodies around the dinner table.

photography by FRANCOIS DISCHINGER

Movable feast
Chairs gathered around a light pedestal table make for a living-room seating area that can quickly be transformed into a fireside dining space.

10 Quick Tips for Choosing the Perfect Lampshade

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Every room in your home is enhanced with beautiful light and illumination from natural means like sunlight to artificial means such as lamps and lighting fixtures. When choosing the perfect lamps for your interiors do you ever consider what type of lampshade will look best with the setting?  From pendant lampshade fixtures that hang above your dining room table to floor lamps that grace your favorite reading chair, here are quick tips to help you choose the perfect lampshade for your home.

1. Choose a lampshade that compliments the colors in your room

Your living room, bedroom and any space that requires illumination should be looked at as a whole when it comes to choosing lampshade colors. Whether you want your lights to be the focal point of the room – then choose bold colors that will stand out amongst other decor. For a more subtle approach use neutral tones in lampshade colors.

2. Pick a lampshade that is the right combination for its base

When looking for the perfect lampshade, look at the base and lampshade as a pair. Depending on if you have a tall and slender or a wide and broad shade will help you choose the right shade. The lamp shade should be low enough to cover the switch just slightly, but not too low that you have to reach up under it to operate the lamp switch.

3. Decide how your lampshade will fit in your interiors

Before you get too concentrated on how the lampshade looks, don’t forget to look at the space it will go in. A bedside table lampshade could need a smaller profile if a bedside table is small or if there isn’t a lot of space to get in and out of the bed freely. While a floor lamp next to a wingback chair may afford a wider profile for its placement in your living room.

Wall sconce lampshades that match floor lampshades are perfect!

4. Determine if your lampshade is for ambiance, function or both

Every lampshade that you put in your home doesn’t have to be just for function. While it’s obviously nice for your lampshades to diffuse the light from the light bulb to create a relaxing ambiance, the color of your shade can make a difference as well. Using all-white decor in your home, especially in lampshades will give you maximum illumination. Consider using light toned shades for more light diffusion into the room and use darker shades to create a mood or ambiance in your space.

5. Choose a pendant lampshade that compliments the room

Pendant lampshades have come a long way over the years in interior design.  There has been a return of large print, dynamic colors and broad profile lampshades reminiscent of the 60’s and 70’s when large graphics and color was huge in design! Bring these elements into your dining room pendant lampshade. Ensure your dining table mimics the similar style to compliment the fixture.

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Amazing Dresser And Mirror at Ashley Furniture Homestore

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Fit for a princess. Every girl would love to put her favorite clothes here because she'll feel like royalty with this elegant French-inspired Korabella dresser and mirror set. Rose gold color accents with scroll, leaf and bead details adorn this piece. Drawers open beautifully with sparkling rose gold colored handles inset with faux crystal accents.

You'll feel like you're looking at the world through rose-colored glasses when you see the Bronett dresser and mirror. Plenty of space to keep everything neat and tidy in its five deep, asymmetrical drawers. Oversized white knobs and trim keep the look fresh and ne

Let your country cottage style shine through with the crisp and cheerful Kaslyn dresser and mirror. Clean lines are enhanced with refined details such as classic half-round pilasters and beautifully turned bun feet. Six smooth-gliding drawers easily accommodate your wardrobe needs.

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GOODBYE DAYLIGHT SAVINGS – IT’S TIME TO LIGHTEN UP

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The end  of Daylight Savings Time means our evenings start a little earlier and last a little longer. So why not take the opportunity to introduce fixtures that add layers of light and sweep away the gloom.

Lighting from top to bottom

Chandeliers are a great way to bring light to larger areas, highlighting the foyer or dining table in a way that draws people in

Pendants focus light right where you need it, especially in the kitchen where they provide excellent task lighting

Floor lamps and table lamps create a mid-level light source that brighten the dark corners

Candles soften the light and create a warm glow that adds an intimate atmosphere throughout the room. Every surface can benefit, from window sill to mantel to dining table. If you want to play it safe, flameless candles are ideal solutions around children and pets.

Candlescape your table

Anna Moseley at askannamosely.com finds inspiration in nature for her tabletop displays. You too can create a tabletop centerpiece featuring candles instead of flowers. They last longer and add a warm glow that’ll reflect well on you. Once you’ve gathered your candles, you’ll need something to display them on – trays, stands and pedestals work well. You can gradually add touches as the season progresses to create a harvest or holiday look that will charm your guests and delight your family. Don’t limit yourself to one kind of candle; use taper, pillar and votive candles together for an eclectic effect.We love how our friends at AllThingsHearthAndHome.com bring together artful and welcoming elements in tasteful tabletop displays. Be inspired to flirt with festive and familiar pairings this season in your holiday decor.

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Consider weaving greenery, ribbons and flowers around your chandelier to lift the arrangement off the table. The look is fresh and unexpected and the result is a more open tabletop that encourages conversation around the dinner table. Candles running down the center of the table will be all the more effective as they share the stage with your chandelier wreath.

Color Theory for Home Decor

Ever wonder how interior designers select their color schemes to decorate your house and create those fabulous rooms we all envy? It’s the color wheel, of course. While the “rules” of color theory are probably just instinctive to the pros, they don’t have to be difficult for the average person to figure out.

Here are a few tips you should know about before decorating your house with color schemes:

A vibrant, high-contrast color scheme.
For a vibrant aesthetic, choose from opposite sides of the color wheel. For example, if you want to showcase a painting of bright yellow daisies in your dining room, a vibrant blue accent wall will really make those flowers pop.

An all-cool or all-warm aesthetic.

Choose colors from one corner of the wheel.
An all-cool color scheme would contain blues and greens and everything in between. Since these colors have a calming effect and represent comfort and nurturing, they’re perfect for a bedroom or relaxing study. Purple (even though it has “hot” red in it) is also considered a cool color. Picture a soothing master suite with powder blue walls, a sage green comforter and lavender throw pillows.
An all-warm color scheme would include oranges, reds and yellows, perfect for inspiring energy and movement. Picture a kid’s bedroom with vibrant yellow on the walls and a throw rug infused with red—wrapping the room in sunny warmth.

A quiet, subtle effect.
Select light and dark versions of just one color. Use a color from a favorite piece of contemporary wall art, centerpiece or decorative pillow and then—depending on the type of color scheme you want to create and feeling you’re trying to convey—find its perfect mate. For example, using a lighter version of a warm sofa color for the walls will create a relaxing, monochromatic scheme.

TIPS WORKING FROM HOME WITH ASHLEY FURNITURE HOMESTORE

You ve got a home-based business. Or you work remotely for an employer. Either way, you plan to make working from home work. From choosing the right desk and storage setup, to avoiding common telecommuting pitfalls, here are some helpful ideas—including productivity tips from experts.

Succeed with the right workstation.

Are you bogged down with paper…or are you a minimalist, perfectly comfortable with e-files and Cloud based backups? Is it mostly computer work, or are you up to your neck with bulky books and piles of files? Before you buy…consider your needs carefully.

For the Computer Savvy: Choose a desk designed for computer use. Look for built-in cutouts to organize electrical cords. Prefer a separate keyword for your laptop? Drop-front drawers are designed just for that. If you reference materials, a desk with a prop-up feature for books or tablets is so handy.

For the Paper Pusher: You need serious desk surface space. To keep the paper from getting totally out of hand, having overhead storage, undermount filing drawers and maybe separate storage cabinets/bookcases is essential.

For the Neatnik: You’re just one of those organized people. A modest-sized desk that’s clean lined and simple—such as the classic Parsons desk—might fit the bill perfectly.

For the Multitasker: You do it all…paper juggling, computer work, printing, scanning, faxing and maybe even meeting clients. A large L-shaped desk offers a separate meeting place for face-to-face time. With their pullout trays for printers, built-in power strips and ample storage…the latest credenzas are custom made for multitaskers.

Set yourself up for productivity.
Working from home is a relief from stressful commutes, gouging gas prices and office antics. That doesn’t mean there aren’t potential downsides. Surrounded by the comforts—and distractions—of home, some telecommuters have productivity problems.

Five work-from-home tips from productivity experts:

Make—and stick to—a daily-do list. The boss isn’t going to be dropping in to ask, “How’s that project going?” It’s up to you to manage your time. By having a daily to-do list and sticking to it, you won’t be caught off guard.

Please, get dressed. Sure, no one will know the better if you’re on a conference call in your PJs or raggedy sweatpants, but you’re still at work. Freshly showered and dressed, you’ll feel like the professional you are.

Reduce distractions. Whatever you do, don’t have a TV in your home office. It’s a surefire distraction. Got kids? They might not get that Mommy or Daddy is working behind that closed door. One work-from-home expert offers a red light-green light-yellow light system that calls for colored paper markers on your door to send a clear message.

Don’t lose touch. Conference calls and video chats are fine, but there’s no substitute for real interaction. Be it once a week or once a month, be in the office to collaborate or simply catch up with coworkers.

Step back for focus. You’ve been staring at that computer screen with little to show for it. Maybe you need to step away to get the creative juices flowing. A walk around the block, a breath of fresh air can get your train of thought back on track.

If you’ve discovered work-from-home tips that work, let us know!