Jeanelle Deppner asked:


Any bathroom, large or small, can be short on storage space and with the need to store towels, toiletries, cosmetics, and beauty supplies, there are few other spaces in the house that are so demanding of adequate storage. Any old storage just won’t do; bathroom storage must be practical and user-friendly. Believe it or not, it is possible to add additional storage space to the bathroom without knocking down walls or building an addition, and it’s possible to do it with style.

Bathrooms typically have sink vanities with storage below that may consist of one open section of cabinetry under the sink and three drawers to the side and a medicine cabinet on the wall over the sink for pharmacy items, toothbrushes and small toiletries. Obviously, this is not enough storage space for the average family or even average couple. If the bathroom or adjacent hallway does not have a built-in or freestanding linen closet, towels and linens typically end up in a bedroom closet, making that space even more cluttered than necessary.

1. If the bathroom is large enough to accommodate some type of linen cabinetry or tall freestanding unit, that is a purchase well worth the investment. Look beyond typical bathroom cabinetry and consider an antique hutch with a glass front. The interior shelves will provide lots of space for folded towels and necessities that can be discreetly tucked away in baskets. Even an antique server or buffet offers quite of bit of storagespace; hang a vintage mirror and wall sconces above for a stylish look that will provide vanity space as well.

2. Options for smaller spaces include units that fit around and above the toilet and narrow free standing shelves that can be tucked in wherever space allows. To make open shelves more visually appealing, purchase wrought iron wall decor that will span the width and height of a freestanding shelf unit (or use two pieces of wrought iron mounted one above the other). The open scrollwork behind the unit will add style and practicality, since items set on the shelf won’t be continually falling off the back side. Let this practical solution inspire you; decorate bare wall space with complimentary wrought iron wall decor or metal wall art.

3. If floor space is at a premium, install wall shelves on any open expanse of wall going as high as the ceiling and practicality allows. Seldom used items can be tucked on the upper shelves and items that you wish to keep under wraps can be discreetly tucked into lidded wicker baskets or bargain storage boxes wrapped in fabric. Choose a colorful patterned fabric or coordinate several to give the boxes a custom look. Wrought iron or carved wooden brackets will make simple shelving more stylish and in keeping with whatever decorative scheme you wish to create. Scatter a few decorative accessories – such as candles, crystal perfume bottles, glass vases, a ceramic ring dish or figurines – to make the wall shelve arrangement as pretty as it is practical.

4. Hanging baskets that are typically used for kitchen produce can be used in the bathroom for wash clothes, face towels and other small items. Line the baskets with fabric to protect delicate contents or provide a little privacy.

Jessica Ackerman asked:


If you are wondering what to do with your kid’s bedroom, one great idea is to decorate it with a nautical theme. This kind of theme is especially ideal for kids who loves anything that has to do with the sea and sailing such as boat, seashores, pirates, sailors or marines.

What is great about this type of bedroom decor is that you have a vast array of decorative items to choose from nautical wall art, wall paper, decorative furniture, and so on. Moreover, you do not need to spend a lot of money to make your kid’s bedroom more beautiful.

Here are some excellent tips on how to have a great kid’s bedroom makeover using a nautical theme.

1. Plan the makeover with your kid.

When doing the makeover of your kid’s room, it is imperative to include your child in the planning process so that he will be able to tell you what he likes and he will be able to make helpful suggestions.

It will also be a good idea if you can bring him to shop with you. Not only is this a good opportunity to spend quality time with your little one, he will also surely appreciate the fact that you value his opinions and ideas.

Make a checklist of things you need to buy for the room. But of course, you have to be practical. You do not need to buy a complete new set of furniture if your kid’s bedroom furniture are still in top condition. Your kid’s room will still have a seaside feel even if his bed is not shaped like a boat, this can be solved with a boat patterned bed sheet.

2. Re-do the wall with a new wallpaper or paint.

For the walls, you can either have it painted or have wallpaper attached to it. If you choose to paint it, it is a good idea to opt for light to medium shades of blue. Another great suggestion is to paint the upper half of the wall white or off-white to appear like the sky and the bottom half with blue to resemble the sea.

3. Add in new furniture.

If you do decide that it is time to buy your kid new furniture for his room because his old ones are hardly usable anymore, you can start with buying a bed. A brown wooden trundle bed is a great choice because it goes well with a nautical theme. You can also choose to buy a boat shaped bed.

As for other pieces of furniture such as drawers, dresser, nightstand, desk, table, bookshelf and many others, it is advisable to get brown wood furniture because this is perfect for a seafaring look.

4. Embellish the room with nautical accents and accessories.

Your options for room accessories include wooden trunk, treasure chest, pirate or sailor figurines, telescope, toy sailboats, seashells, lamps, oars, map, compass, and pillows and blankets with boat or seashell patterns.

As for nautical wall art, you can choose from posters, art prints, clocks, photographs, boat steering wheel, tropical fish wall art, anchor or a fish net that can serve as toy holder.

With these fun ideas and suggestions, you can turn your kids boring old room into something that can become a sailor or pirate’s haven.

Jessica Ackerman asked:

The relaxed, country style appeal of the Tuscan interior design style exudes a warm and cheerful atmosphere in any part of the home. For these reasons, this style has enjoyed tremendous popularity over the years, especially in the kitchen. Its hallmark characteristic is its rustic charm derived from objects that are easily found in the rolling hills of the wine-producing Italian countryside. From painting your walls a light beige to hanging simple metal wall artworks, you too can have a Tuscan kitchen!

When one thinks of the Tuscan countryside, two things immediately come to mind: food and wine. These are the two basic features of the Italian country lifestyle. In decorating your kitchen, you don’t need to be too literal in transferring this design aesthetic in your home. What you can do is borrow some of the more obvious elements and give them a unique interpretation while still adhering to the basic design features. For example, given the integral role of wine, you can add touches of leaf-inspired designs like those found in metal artworks such as wall grilles and wine racks. For those who want to evoke the same rustic appeal in their kitchens, we have created a simple list of must-have design elements to create a Tuscan-inspired kitchen.

Colors: Given that the rustic farmhouses of the Tuscan region are traditionally made out of ubiquitous materials, the color palette therefore uses more warm, natural, and earthy tones such as beige, light yellow, brown, and white among others. In your kitchen, you can easily incorporate this by painting walls in these colors, using matching cookware in the same color palette, or showcasing a prominent display of crockery in open shelves and other clearly visible areas. Take note that the colors should not be limited to just this color scheme; unless you want your kitchen to look monochromatic and boring, consider adding splashes of red, mustard, or lavender here and there.

Fabrics: Wherever possible, use fabrics that are reminiscent of those used in the countryside. As a rule, cotton and lace are the typical fabrics used in Tuscan-style interior design. For the more traditional ones, revel in using dainty lace curtains and tablecloths as well as beige damasks and chintz. However, if you are not particularly fond of these difficult to maintain fabrics, limit the inspiration to just the windows. This will give the same effect. In choosing curtains and draperies, you may use those with colors such as those mentioned above. For the bolder ones, feel free to use rust, deep cherry, and bright yellow.

Accent Pieces: In the old times, accessories found in an Italian country home should be practical and built to last. Simplicity was the norm. Thus, it was not uncommon for kitchens to dominantly feature simple metal or wooden wine racks. However, if you do not have the space nor the inclination to collect wines, you can simply choose to hang copper pots, handmade baskets or ornate wall grilles. The deep, earthy colors and leaf-inspired designs of these metal artworks can easily fit into a Tuscan-inspired kitchen.

Jessica Ackerman asked:

Even if it is just the smallest room in the house, it is still one of the most important. The bathroom where we spend our time taking a bath, taking nature calls, and grooming ourselves is not something that we should ever take for granted. In fact, it is essential that we are able to decorate and design it in such a way that it will become a relaxing retreat anytime we need it.

One of the best ways to decorate your bathroom is to use a tropical theme for it. With vibrant tropical home decor like a tropical fish wall art or tropical wall hangings, you can instantly turn your old boring bathroom into one that exudes life and zest.

And it does not matter whether you have a big budget or not. Achieving a nice and exquisite tropical bathroom is possible with a dash of creativity, practicality and resourcefulness.

Tip 1: Paint the Walls with a Tropical Color

A major element for a tropical design is the wall paint. To make your bathroom have a tropical feel, you can choose to paint it with earth tones or with shades of pinks, blues or oranges. If you want something neutral, you can also use light brown, sand or sea green colors.

Beautify the wall even further by adding fantastic wall hangings like a tropical fish wall art for instance. You can also hang frames of beautiful coastal scenery photographs that will make you feel like you are at the beach yourself.

Tip 2: Throw in Some Tropical Accessories

After you have painted the wall to give it a tropical finish, add some tropical items such as shower curtain and towels in floral patterns or animal prints. You can also put different colors of seashells in a clear glass bowl or buy soap dishes or toothbrush holders that have tropical designs to spruce up your bathroom even more. Moreover, a healthy green plant can also be a wonderful addition to your tropical bathroom.

Tip 3: Have Warm Tropical Lighting

Achieve the tropical look by having warm lighting on your bathroom. Accent lamps shaped like palm trees are some of the best choices for lights for this room. Remember that the bathroom light should not be too bright. It should just be enough to illuminate the whole space.

Tip 4: Dress your Windows the Tropical Style

To make the bathroom even more visually interesting, dress up the windows by using tropical themed prints on curtains or plain wooden blinds. If you already have a shower curtain that has pattern prints, it is a good idea to go for the plain wooden blinds so as not to overdo it.

Tip 5: Design your Floor

You do not need to install new tiles on the bathroom floor, just adding a bath mat with a tropical design or a bamboo mat is enough to the job.

Once you have achieved transforming your bathroom into a tropical retreat, it will feel like swimming in the sea every time you take a bath.

Roy Primm asked:

An African  Room or accent  can help anyone can add spice and life to their home or apartment.  More people are starting to recognize the value of this adventurous decor.  Whether you choose accent pieces liven up what you already have or centerpieces that can dominate a room, there’s something to meet every taste and budget.

You can choose a wooden sculpture, hand-made in Kenya, a colorful hand sewn basket weaved in Ghana or pottery handmade in South Africa.  There’s nothing like a accent piece made, fashioned and polished by hand to set off any piece of furniture, an empty wall or a bare corner of any room in your home.

However, African decor covers more than handmade sculptures and pottery.  You can add a splash of excitement by exploring the many colorful fabrics available.  You’ll instantly recognize them when you see them. They grab your attention with  their bold colors and design that demand attention when anyone walks into a room.

Another accent that continues to grow in demand is African wall decor.  Examples are wall ornaments, hand-woven fabrics, picture frames and more. They all work to add boldness and charm to bare and boring walls. Be careful not to overdo it though. When it comes to walls wall decor, a little can go a long way. Besides placing too many on one wall distracts one piece from the other.  Plus overdoing it makes one piece compete rather than accent each other.

Those are my tips for adding spice to your home with an African room or accents. For more tips from top African decor experts see resource box below.