This model home has a boy’s castle room complete with a hide-out! The designer has used a faux stone effect around the window and doors. The bed is angeled in the corner wiht a knight’s rocking horse! The window has a cover with a crown emblem.

You don’t have to move to get some great ideas from homestaging. The whole idea of staging is to make your home more attractive. So use use these tips and enjoy your home without selling. Then if you ever need to sell it you will be ready to go!

At my local home improvement store, this magazine jumped off the shelf at me when I was looking for plants to use in my pots this spring.

I’ve never been a natural “plant arranger” so I’m always looking for ideas. This concept of thriller, filler, spiller was so cool, the pictures demonstrated that you can’t go wrong with it. Georgous picture after picture of potted plants.

Here’s the recipe for success:

• Thriller: Start here, choose a plant that shoots up like a grassy plant or tall flowering plant, as your focal point.
• Filler: just fills in the edges and makes the container look full.
• Spiller: this is the plant that has vines or spilling ability and falls over the edges to soften the pot.

It’s like magic.

I found a great free site that lists dozens of plants and shows great pictures, it’s called Plantbynumber.com, check it out.

You can buy this magazine at your home improvement store or check it out here

Many Designers love platform beds because they give you so much space above the bed, giving the room an open feel. Here are a few other reasons platform beds are hot hot hot…

• They are close to the ground which stays cooler through out the night.
• The space below the bed can be used for storage, sometimes they even come with drawers
• They are easy to build yourself
• You don’t have to use a box spring
• They are affordable and easy to move
• They usually add a comtemporary feel to the room
• Also, can give a european or asian flavor to the space
• If you like a firm bed they can be ideal
• Platform beds are usually more stable
• Getting in and out of bed is easier for you and your pets!

Photo courtesy of Pottery Barn

Good lighting enhances every room. Lighting can trick the eye into thinking the room is bigger or more cozy depending how how you use it. Here are a few tips for getting the most out of your lighting and making your rooms glow with beautiful light.

• Put most of your lights on dimmers, even those in the bathrooms, patio lights, hallways and table lamps. This will instantly allow you the change the mood of the area.
• Use light pink fabric or paint on the inside of your lamp shades to soften peoples skin and make them look better.
• Use light pink lightbulbs
• Use an equal amount of down and up lights in the room.
• Brighten corners and make the room look larger by adding uplights behind corner plants.
• Add hidden rope lights, on dimmers of course, behind molding, headboards or under bars.

For more lighting ideas check out GE’s “Design with Light” ideas here.

Adding outdoor lighting is one of the easiest curb appeal improvements you can do yourself. Your landscape is as unique as you. So your outdoor lighting has to be unique too. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Use wall sconces to help balance the light on your patio and your indoor lighting
• Light your pavers, stake lights and small spotlights along your walkway
• Use simple hanging lanterns for a peaceful mood
• Use reproduction period lighting to add a classic style
• Use spotlights recessed in the ground behind gardens to cast light up through the plant to cast shadows while illuminating fountains or sculptures
• Place lights behind shrubs accenting the stonework on your home
• Use down lights to accent landscaping in the front of the house
• Use submersible spot lights in fountains or ponds
• Use solar powered lights in areas inaccessable to electricity
• Canopy or mushroom stake lights flood a pathway
• Try adding hanging candles in a tree to add style to any occasion

For more information on lighting check out Lighting Design & Installation

Photo Courtesy of Toll Brothers

According to Feng Shui expert Jayme Barett, “The bed should be in the back corner of the room, diagonally opposite the door, make sure you have a solid headboard to protect your head. Avoid having your bed under a window, excessive energy may be draining out the window during the night.

Add a lamp that shines light towards the ceiling or a silk plant in the corner behind the bed to fill the empty space. If possible, try placing your bed so that your head points towards east when you lie down. The east energy is assoicated with the rising sun and brings health and harmony.

Do not place your bed next to the door because it does not allow you to easily view the door and potential visitors. Do not allow a mirror to reflect the bed. Do not put the door in direct line with the door, this allows enery in the hall to bustle down the hall and disturb your sleep. It may also cause energy to drain out the door.

Keep the bedding calming and neutral with a splash of red for passion in the bedroom. Use a new mattress every 8 years to ensure healthy energy flow while eliminating the negative impact of past illnesses, bad relationships or distress” –Feng Shui Your Life book.

According to David Bromstad of HGTV’s Color Splash, to pick a focal wall to paint a different color, choose the wall with the largest piece of furnature. Paint it your focal color.

David also says if you have a small room, keep all the furnature black and it will actually make the room look larger.

In a bedroom, the obvious place for your feature wall is the wall that the bed is against.

For other rooms, another way to choose the focal wall is to ask yourself “what is the wall that my eye is drawn to first when I walk into the room?”

Does the wall have a fireplace? That’s a good focal wall too.

Photo courtesy of Devine Design
David Bromstead

The seven layers of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell:

1. Paint and architecture. The first layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “Paint is one of the most effective and inexpensive ways to add substance, warmth and “theme” to any room. But remember this golden rule: Paint the ceiling too. A touch of molding adds architecture to a room and value to your property. Photo Courtesy of GE
2. Install flooring. Christopher Lowell’s second layer of design is installed flooring. Anything that runs from wall to wall, such as wood, tile, or carpet, completes the shell of the room. Choose something neutral in color. Furniture will interrupt these expanses, to be sure to consider how much of the floor you are going to see.
3. High ticket upholstery. The third layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “The fabric on sofas, club chairs, and settees should be textural and solid rather than busy motifs that might be costly to change later, when you tire of them. To avoid this pattern trap, reserve accent fabric for your next layer. Photo courtesy of Harden Upholstery Collection
4. Accent fabrics. The forth layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “Accent fabrics are those drapes, pillows, runners, and table toppers that help bring a room alive. Because they are more affordable to replace, they can be change seasonally or when the pattern becomes dated. Area rugs are also part of this layer and are ideal centerpieces for conversation groupings.
5. Nonupholstered surfaces. The fifth layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “We call these the workhorses of the room. Tables, desks, bookcases, and a more all help make a room functional, as well as provide storage. If your seating is clustered in conversation grouping in the center of your room, the wall can then be left free for these necessary pieces. Remember: the human form needs only 18 in to 20 inches between items to comfortably navigate around, so when choosing a coffee table go is big is you can. Picture courtesy of GE.
6. Accessories. The sixth layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “This layer includes wall art, vases, artwork, mirrors, and just about any decorative table top piece. Think in terms of fewer large scale items rather than an abundance of small ones, which could easily get absorbed into the room and create “room dandruff”.
7. Plant and lighting. The seventh layer of design according the interor designer Christopher Lowell, “These two elements are combined to create shadows, lending an air of intimacy to a room. As much light should be coming from the floor as from the ceiling; an up light under a large-scale tree cast dramatic ceiling shadows, while task lamps add function and decoration to the space. The flicker of candlelight adds a warmly romantic and cozy feeling. Recess, spot, or track lighting helps draw the eye to specific objects of interest. Washed light on richly colored walls accentuates surfaces texture and art work. Photo Courtesy of Huntingon Lighting

Christopher Lowell’s If You Can Dream It, You Can Do It!: Dream Decor on a Budget

1. A romantic evening calls for in scent in a fresh flower scent, or sandalwood.
2. Use them in Evergreen or Cinnimon for a festive home at Christmas.
3. To cover an offensive smell like smoke, mold or pet smells.
4. Stressed (or not)? Use a sage and Lavendar candle and RELAX.
5. Set the mood for a themed party, for example a hawaiian luah with a cucumber melon scent.
6. This is a great gift idea for any one. Even men love the smell of the perfect candle!
7. When selling a home, fill the air with a baking scent before an Open House or showing. (a proven method to sell your home)

A favorite richly scented candle company is Gold Canyon Candles. However, I’ve also lucked into some other candles that work just as well. A few that you can purchase from Michaels & Hobby Lobby are not bad and Bath and Body Works has some nice choices as well at lower prices. Everyone knows of Yankee Candles, they have some nice options too!