5 DORM ROOM DOS AND DON’TS

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Finally! You’ve graduated high school and it’s time to start the next chapter in your very own dorm room. The future is wide open and the possibilities seem endless: who knows if there will be a cute boy at the end of the hall or if your roommate will become your best friend for life. With so much excitement surrounding your new beginning, you’ve probably given little thought to life in a dorm room. Scared? Don’t be! Stick to these dos and don’ts and college life will become second nature in no time at all. 

Don’t bring everything you own… Do stick to the essentials

You don’t want to be the kid who shows up with a U-Haul and a minivan full of stuff. You won’t need your mom’s entire linen closet or a kitchen’s worth of pots and pans. Bring the bare minimum—one or two towels, two sets of sheets and a single set of dishes. The minute you set foot inside your tiny dorm room, you’ll understand why.

Don’t sleep, study and socialize in the same place… Do create separate zones

Your bed might (hopefully) be comfortable, but it shouldn’t serve as the room’s lounge and study spaces. Instead, easily and inexpensively create a social nook with a few poufs. You might also want to invest in an ergonomic desk chair, which is sure to provide more support than the hard-as-a-brick one provided by the school.

Don’t rely on dreaded fluorescent lighting…Do make use of desk and floor lamps

Fluorescent lighting is not only unflattering and unsightly, but it can also cause headaches. Try to make the best use of natural light during the daytime and use floor and desk lamps in the evening. Compared to overhead fluorescents, “soft white” CFL bulbs create a warm glow and provide amazing ambient lighting.

Don’t overlook opportunities for storage… Do think vertically 

Floor space is severely limited in tiny dorm rooms, often requiring creative storage solutions. You should absolutely invest in floor risers to maximize under-bed storage. Also consider hanging wall shelves if your school will allow it.

Don’t neglect your study space… Do love where you learn

No matter how dedicated you are to your education, there will be days when studying is the absolute last thing on your mind. But, the exams, papers and projects must go on. Try to make your study space as comfortable, stylish and “you” as possible. Make this your special place—somewhere you’ll want to hang out even when your nose is in a book. 

Ashley Furniture Home Decor + Free ShippingHow to Choose Lights For Your Children’s Rooms

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Your child’s bedroom should be a safe haven, a place where fun flows along with creativity and productive thoughts. Lighting a room with so many purposes can be challenging. However, before you start buying and putting the lights in their room, wait and spend some time in understanding your child’s needs, personality and other small things. Children’s have slightly different lighting needs from us, adults. Also, you should takedecorating your child’s room as a great opportunity to illustrate off your playful side, do some personal bonding, and allow your children to be creative. Use your as many ideas and imaginations for decorating but, please keep one thing in mind, it should reflect your child’s personality and needs, not yours where we as parents make a mistake.

Understand the basics

Planning lighting needs for your child’s room is a great opportunity for you to show off your

playful side, do some personal bonding, and will also allow your children to be creative. Use all your imaginative ideas in the process but the important thing to remember here is it should reflect your child’s personality, not yours. Talk to your child while making them part of your design work. Be interactive and if needed take them along with you while buying the lighting things. In any kid room you need to consider three types of lighting; ambient light which fills the whole room, Task lighting is the kind of lighting that brightens a particular area and finally accent lighting that adds a novelty touch to your child’s room.

The key factors to consider

Your kid’s age, whether a baby, early school years or teenagers. Age makes a real difference in selecting and adjusting proper lighting ideas. As your child matures as do their rooms lighting needs. For example, babies need low-level lighting so you can see during those frequent trips in the night to feed, change and comfort. As you will spend a considerable amount of time in your baby’s room it’s important that you have a ceiling mounted bedroom light with a dimmer if possible would be ideal since it allows you to brighten the room when required and then lower the light at bedtime.

Also, a kid room decorative lamp or two at proper light that gives off sufficient light is important when it coming to changing your baby or reading stories. Instead of kid lamps, one can also opt for a track lighting which are quiet adjustable to lighten while changing babies nappies or reading bedtime stories. Also, track lighting can be adjusted, rotated to specific areas as the child grows. Older, school going children and teenagers may have slightly different lighting needs. For example, some older children may get scared in the night if the room is dark, which in that case installing a night light opposite corner of the room and not shining in your child’s face to make them sleep is a good idea. Also growing children needs a balance of natural light and artificial lighting so operable skylights and windows will add charm to the room.

Your child’s personality and interests will also play a substantial role in understanding the lighting needs. If it is a small baby, try to understand what kind of interests or personality they can have by seeing their reaction on showing or displaying certain things. For example, babies will react very happily or enjoys certain types of pictures or colours or any objects, keep this in mind while planning the lighting. Like some babies may enjoy Airplane or other objects around a central ceiling fixture or pendant light. Bright red balloon wall light may also entertain your small ones. Generally, all most kids small or growing, love bright colors and novelty items like cartoon characters or any other funny animal characters.

Some children’s may like certain colours which in that case colorful catchy lights can be a good option. Well lighting your child’s room should co-ordinate with the overall decor but having that one wild lighting idea which excites your boy or girl is a must. Choose at least one novelty theme to add a vibrant mood to your child room that compliments their hobbies and personality. Afterwards try to understand what kind of activities will be taking place in the room. Like sleeping, doing homework, entertainment, computer activities and many more such things. Parents should select task lighting that is most conducive to the different activities children pursue in their room. This will make the job of selecting and fixing task lighting to brighten up specific area used for an activity much easier.

If your child has a computer in the room, you’ll want to ensure an ambient soothing computer place. The trick here is to use task lighting to illuminate what is on the monitor and use an ambient light source to eliminate any contrast. If your child does all their homework on a desk table, try for safe table lamp or the best wall lights that lines up with your child’s shoulder when sitting up ready to read. Lighting that comes from behind her shoulder and slightly to the side will be the best for their eyes without causing any damage to their vision. If your child likes to read in bed consider an adjustable kid room lamp or track lighting rotated to the bedpost. Reading will become more tempting to your child if you make the experience as comfortable as possible. If your children watch television in their rooms, don’t let them watch it in total darkness. It’s better for their eyes to use low-level light, either from a dimmed light or from a side light with the beam directed at the ceiling.

Never forget the safety of your children

While planning and designing your child’s room lighting needs, there are safety issues to consider first. The safest kinds of lighting fixtures to use in your child’s room are central ceiling fixtures, child wall lights and track lighting. The advantage here is that these types of fixtures won’t get damaged if your kids start playing around the room. Try to keep any light sources out of your child’s reach is always a good way to prevent light burns. In any case if you can’t avoid it than any light that their little hands can reach should preferably be fitted with compact fluorescent bulbs which are cool to touch Use track lighting or wall lights instead of table lamps since they always get knocked over and believe us, always us. When installing electrical wall socket, see that there are no loose cords hanging around and cover the empty sockets to ensure prying fingers can’t put it inside. Also avoid low pendant lights. They can be a hazard during pillow fights or when jumping on the bed.

Using the above provided information along with your imagination you can do wonders to your children’s room lighting and the way it will nurture their personality. Just remember, have fun and make it a team work with your child as your expert partner.

Ashley Furniture Clearance Sales 70% OFF: 3 Simple Bedroom Decorating Ideas

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Today I’m sharing three simple bedroom decorating ideas for your home. You’ll see how I used these tips when decorating a teenage boy’s room, but they are applicable for any bedroom or guest room. 

1. Establish a color scheme.  When I first saw the room, the walls were painted a golden tan color that the homeowner and her son liked.  The problem?  Well, everything was pretty much tan or brown in the space – and it was a bit on the boring side.

before

We decided to work with the existing wall color, while injecting a second color to give the room some personality.  The  so-called “accent wall” was best suited for the ceiling, and we loved how it turned out.

The Decorologist 

2. Mix the bedding.  A great way to avoid the bed-in-the-bag look is to mix your bedding.  The traditional plaid bedding paired with the tan bedspread folded at the end of the bed and repeated in a pillow is more interesting without being fussy in any way.  We chose textured tan curtains that create a nice tonal effect with the wall color.  The green ceiling ties in with the green in the plaid bedding, of course.

 The Decorologist

3. Make it memorable with an interesting focal point.  My client’s son had been collecting vintage tennis rackets (he plays tennis, of course), so I hung them tightly to create the perfect focal point for above the bed.

The Decorologist 

Collections can make the best art, and I particularly love the way these vintage tennis rackets look as a grouping.

The Decorologist

Share with us your best bedroom decorating ideas! 

Want to learn how to choose the right paint colors? Order my Color Workshop Video and find out how to make the best choices for your home!

5 Cheap and Simple Bedroom Decorating Ideas

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1. Dollar store mirrored planter boxes All you need for this is beveled mirrors from the dollar store and a hot glue gun. Form a box with the mirrors and glue the edges together and voila, you’ll have classy glass planters for your nightstand. See the detailed how-to here.

2. Add an antique rug for less. Bring some Eastern flair to your bedroom by visiting the Pakobel Rugs eBay store. You’ll find antique, handmade rugs (Persian, Kashmiri, and more) at bargain prices. It’s even possible to score a gorgeous rug for $40.


3. Wall art for $4.95. Frame gift wrap paper from Papyrus to create wall art. This stationery store creates stunning and exquisite prints that are a welcome departure from the usual kitschy gift wraps. Choose one focal print or mix and match a series of small prints to liven up your bedroom walls.

4. Unique photo display. For an interesting and eye-catching way to display pictures, tack a coat rack on a wall and use ribbons to hang your family pictures from the hooks.

5. Transform plain curtains with fashion beads. For a striking and affordable window treatment, buy plain drapes and transform them by sticking on fashion beads. Fashion beads are available at any craft store (you’ll need beads mixed with glue). See the detailed how-to here.

6 Tips for Choosing Bedding

Ah, bedding. We ask so much from this one element. We want it to be comfortable, easy-to-clean, and beautiful—after all, it will set the tone for the entire room. Check Ashley Furniture Clearance Sales 70% OFF for fun holiday!

There’s no doubt that we ask a lot from our bedding. But how do you choose the best bedding for you, given the seemingly endless options available? Here are six tips to selecting the perfect set.

Think Multiples
You will typically want at least two complete sheet sets for your bed—that way, should a cleaning disaster arise, you won’t be left sheet-less for the night. Keep it practical by choosing heavier, warmer sheets for the winter months and lighter, cooler sheets for summer.

Practically speaking, having at least one set of sheets in neutral is a good bet. Should you choose to switch up your duvet, neutral sheets will still look coordinated.

Duvet vs. QuiltLet it be known that bedding terminology is fluid, at best: different people have different terms for various items. Tomato, to-mah-to.

The object in question is the main blanket that covers your bed and keeps you warm at night. There are two main options for this: a linen that is used to envelope a filling, like a down comforter (think a pillowcase to a pillow), and one where the filling is sewn into the cover, making it a single blanket. For simplicity sake, we’ll call the former a “duvet” and the latter a “quilt”.

Duvets offer the benefit of being easier to clean without taking up the entire washing machine, like a full quilt is apt to do—though anyone who has tried to wrangle a comforter back into a duvet cover will know that it’s still not the easiest thing to do. Perhaps the greatest benefit of a duvet cover versus a quilt is that you can fill the duvet with whatever type of comforter the season calls for.

Thread What?Thread count is a common attribute used to describe linens. It represents the number of yarns per square inch of fabric. Traditionally, a higher thread count meant higher quality fabric. Most fabrics today are made with machines, so while a threat count of 350 in times of yore might have signified a high quality product, today’s sheets can have a thread count of 1,200.

In short, thread count today doesn’t mean as much as it once did. Marketers love to use it, but don’t let it be the only factor in your decision. Instead, give the sheets a little scratch: if the material pills, it’s probably not great quality.

Single Ply – Not Just for Toilet Paper!Single ply means that the weaving process consists of single yarns being woven over and under another, whereas plied yarns consist of yarns that are first twisted together, then woven with other plied yarns.

Single ply fabrics are typically lighter, softer and more durable—three factors that most people look for in linens. If that sounds like your perfect sheet, then stick to single ply.

Bedding as DécorAvoid the sterile, hospital bed look: pump up the aesthetics with throws and decorative pillows. These are some of the easiest accessories to play around with, since they are easy to switch in and out. Make them central to whatever décor theme you decide to work with in your room.

Keep it CleanExperts say you should wash your linens once per week, rotating sets if you have multiples. Let’s be honest: washing linens is a pain, and it takes up a lot of room in the washing machine. Don’t feel bad if you stray from the weekly rule, but try to wash them at least every two to three weeks!

Washing details will always depend on the fabric, so study the labels carefully. Generally speaking, warm water with mild detergent is best.

Easy MaintenanceBedding is awkward to iron, but it looks so much better when it’s free of wrinkles. Take a shortcut by machine drying it on a low temperature (or on “wrinkle release”, if your dryer offers that setting). Once the linens are dry, remove them immediately. Smooth them out and fold them to keep wrinkles at bay. Certain fabrics are also less prone to wrinkling. Try cotton flannel or jersey fabrics.

The top tip? Choose bedding that you love. Aim for comfort–duvet covers, throws and pillows can be used to pretty up the room. And don’t forget–if you share your bed with a significant other, make sure that they love it, too!

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GOING FOR GOLD: DECORATING WITH METALLIC GOLD ACCESSORIES

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 Much to our delight, metallics are having a moment! Glistening gold—and even brassy bronze—are back in a very big way. Yet, despite the glam factor you get from going gold, many homeowners shy away from the trend for fear that their homes will look like Liberace’s. So how can you get the look without going overboard? Keep reading!

Twice as Nice

One of our favorite designer tricks is pairing metallic accents (gold, especially!) with bright lights. Our Sarice table lamp has a hammered metal base that almost twinkles when the light hits just right. Not only does this twinkling effect draw the eye in, but the metallic finish reflects light throughout the space. If your aesthetic is more vintage or eclectic, you might prefer our Shannin table lamp. The antiqued finish—which resembles always on-trend mercury glass—has an almost mirrored effect, creating a gorgeous gold glow.

You can achieve a similar result by placing our scalloped mirror  or sunburst mirror opposite a window. The mirrors reflect natural light throughout the space, creating a bright and cheery atmosphere. Like with the lamp bases, the metallic frames seem to sparkle when they catch the light. With either a lamp or mirror, you get the effect of having several golden accents in the room with only one metallic piece. No Liberace here!

DIY Gold Accents 

Looking for a quick, inexpensive way to get your gold fix? Take a look at the DIY Project Erin made on Francois et Moi. She transformed a thrifted tray into a rich-looking accent with metallic gold spray paint! Now there’s a bright idea.

Have you tried your hand at creating your own golden accents? Any tricks for decorating with metallic accessories? We’d love to hear all about it in the comments below!

5 WAYS TO ADD SEASONAL WARMTH TO YOUR HOME

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For some of us, the temperature is just starting to cool off. For others, it’s downright chilly out there. One sense we all share—a desire to make our homes a cozier nest for the wintery months ahead. Rest assured, adding seasonal warmth doesn’t require much time, cost or effort. A few simple choices may be all you need.

Tips for adding instant warmth…

#1 Roll out the welcome mat.
ThinkstockPhotos-153816149Whether you have family coming home for the holidays, or you expect friends and neighbors to drop by, set the tone for a warm welcome with a festive doormat. If you’re lucky enough to have a front porch, an indoor/outdoor rug really warms it up.

#2 Sprinkle in seasonal shades.
The summer was all about keeping it light and bright. It’s time to embrace deeper, darker tones. For an instant warming effect, dot rooms with touches of harvest hues (like golds, clay, wheat, plum, reds and earthy sage). From table runners to rug runners, there are endless opportunities for easy yet dramatic color edits.

#3 Add layer, texture and plushness.
Chilly floors beg for that extra layer of warmth and softness. No need to swap out the area rug you have. Get creative by layering on something new…say a fluffy wool shag over a nubby textural or seagrass rug, as one of our favorite bloggers, Blair Staky of TheFoxandShe.com, does so well.layer rugAdorn seating with soft pillows and create cozy nooks for curling up on cold days. Drape sumptuously plush throws over chairs or have on hand at the foot of the bed. Curtains over blinds or sheer drapes keep out drafts and infuse warmth in more ways than one.throw

#4 Take inspiration from nature.
A60000326Love the idea of incorporating a relaxed, rustic element? The possibilities are right outside your door. Colorful fall leaves (try pressing/framing them), natural pinecones, stems of berries or a sheaf of wheat all make for beautifully understated seasonal accents. Even something as simple as a craggy branch in a vase or vessel makes a statement.A60000538-SW-KOA60001086-ALT

# 5 Make the fireplace the focus.
W271-12-W100-01You’ve waited all year to fire it up. Now, turn your attention to the fireplace. Adorn the mantel with the naturally rustic accents you’ve collected. Add a variety of candles (clear glass and metallic holders are especially hot). Think high-to-low heights for visual interest. Maybe even rearrange your furniture to better flank the fireplace. No fireplace? Electric fireplace inserts are gaining a roaring fan base. No wonder. With the click of a remote control…instant romance.A60000316Of course, no night by the fire would be complete without a cup of hot chocolate in hand. Cheers…

Ashley Furniture Clearance Coupon: HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT PILLOW FOR YOU

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Most people don’t think too much about their choice of pillow unless they sleep badly or suffer from pain (usually neck or back pain), but the right pillow can make a big impact on your quality of sleep, your health and your well being.

Choosing the right pillow is the first step. There’s no single pillow that’s great for everyone. We are all different shapes and sizes and have different sleeping styles and so need to choose a pillow which is suited to each of us. Trouble is, there’s loads of different pillow types, where do you begin?
Don’t worry, here’s a handy pillow reference guide to help you to narrow down the options, you’ll be sleeping better in no time:

STEP 1. WHAT IS YOUR SLEEPING STYLE?
Probably the most important factor in choosing the right pillow. This determines the required pillow support level (thickness) to adequately support your head and align your neck with your spine.

Do you mostly:
Sleep on your front (you are a tummy sleeper) – Choose a softer pillow (down pillow or a soft, low-fill synthetic pillow)
Sleep on your back (you are a back sleeper) – Choose a medium thickness pillow (high-fill down pillow, orthopaedic memory foam pillow or medium synthetic pillow)
Sleep on your side (you are aside sleeper) – Choose a medium-high thickness pillow (high-fill down pillow, memory foam pillow or medium-high density synthetic pillow)
A mixture of all or some of these (you are a mixed sleeper) – Choose a medium thickness pillow (high-fill down pillow or medium synthetic pillow)
If you are a side sleeper, you should try putting a soft, low-density pillow between your knees (especially for women). You might find this unusual, but it helps to align your upper hip properly, taking the pressure off and making you very comfortable.

STEP 2. DO YOU SUFFER FROM ALLERGIES?
Most quality down or feather pillows have usually had their fillings processed in order to remove allergy-causing particles (dander), they would also normally feature a highly-containing case to keep everything in. I’m actually allergic to feathers but I don’t have any problems with most good quality down pillows. If you suffer badly from allergies or if you’re not sure then stick with hypo-allergenic synthetic pillow fillings.

Do you:
Generally not suffer from allergies and are not allergic to feathers – Choosing any pillow filling would be fine
Have a known allergy to feathers, suffer from asthma or have other significant allergies – Stick with synthetic fillings such as polyester (Hollowfibre, Microfibre) or memory foam pillows

STEP 3. HOW MUCH DO YOU WANT TO SPEND?
We’ve reviewed pillows from £2.50 to £150 each and like most things, you get what you pay for. I love a bargain but will always avoid very cheap pillows because they never last, they loose their support and shape and will reduce your sleep quality. Likewise, at the top end, very expensive pillows are not a lot better than some other pillows at half the price.

Which are you:
I want to keep costs down (£20 or less) – Go for a well made synthetic pillow from a good brand
I’m happy to spend a little more if it means a better quality pillow (£20 to £50) – Choose a top-end synthetic pillow, luxurious down pillow or memory foam
I want the best pillow I can get (£50+) – Choose the best quality and most luxurious down pillow

STEP 4. DO YOU SUFFER FROM SLEEP PROBLEMS?
Lastly, there’s a wide choice of pillows designed to help people overcome particular sleep problems:

Do any of these affect your quality of sleep:
Snoring – Consider using an anti-snoring pillow. It can work for some.
Sleep apnea – There are pillows designed to help relieve sleep apnea symptoms
Neck pain – There’s a wide range of orthopaedic pillows designed to offer special neck support for neck pain and cervical spondylosis sufferers
Back pain – Look for a pillow which is specifically designed to help with spine alignment
Pregnancy – Choose a pillow designed with special support designed for 2nd and 3rd trimester pregnant women