The first day of summer is June 21, but that doesn’t mean you have to wait until then to start eating al fresco! Bring a tray of food and drinks out and sit on the chaise lounges in your San Diego backyard, or bring your dining room furniture from your Manhattan apartment onto the roof of your building for dinner under the stars!
Here are some more tips for making the most of your al fresco dining experience:
• Don’t stop at furniture. Bring pillows outdoors too, to make the space as comfortable as possible.
• Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t get fancy if you want to. Add an elegant touch with a crisp white tablecloth.
• Instead of cut flowers, pick up potted herbs (bonus: you can use them in your meals) or tough annuals (like impatiens or white geraniums). They will last all summer long.
• Save pretty wine or sparkling water bottles. Remove the labels (soak them in hater water for a half hour or so), fill with water and place on the table as an alternative to a pitcher.
• Be eco-friendly and use pretty dish towels in lieu of paper napkins. Bonus: if you’re eating messy summer staples like ribs, watermelon or corn on the cob you won’t have to sacrifice your nice cloth napkins.
Showing posts with label low cost furniture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label low cost furniture. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
Making the Most of Your Small Space
Just because your home or apartment is small doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice on style! You can make even the smallest space appear roomier with a few simple strategies.
In your kitchen, make sure you can move around among the stove, sink and refrigerator without running into anything. It will save your sanity when cooking and also make the space appear larger. If your kitchen area is especially tight, consider replacing a traditional table and chairs with a bar table and bar stools for a contemporary look that is also space-friendly.
When dealing with limited square footage, try to find items that can do double duty by performing multiple functions. Coffee tables can serve as extra seating in a pinch, for example, and can also store books or other items. Although pushing furniture to the sides of the room might seem like it will make your living room seem larger, it actually does the opposite by making the space look like a waiting room! Use a rug in a neutral color to unify the room and give it a focal point.
Lighting also plays a major role in decorating a small space. The darker the room is, the smaller it will feel. So make sure to let in as much light as possible and add mirrors to the walls to open things up even further. Strategic painting can also help. By painting the walls a brighter color than an adjacent hallway or room, the space will feel less cramped.
In your kitchen, make sure you can move around among the stove, sink and refrigerator without running into anything. It will save your sanity when cooking and also make the space appear larger. If your kitchen area is especially tight, consider replacing a traditional table and chairs with a bar table and bar stools for a contemporary look that is also space-friendly.
When dealing with limited square footage, try to find items that can do double duty by performing multiple functions. Coffee tables can serve as extra seating in a pinch, for example, and can also store books or other items. Although pushing furniture to the sides of the room might seem like it will make your living room seem larger, it actually does the opposite by making the space look like a waiting room! Use a rug in a neutral color to unify the room and give it a focal point.
Lighting also plays a major role in decorating a small space. The darker the room is, the smaller it will feel. So make sure to let in as much light as possible and add mirrors to the walls to open things up even further. Strategic painting can also help. By painting the walls a brighter color than an adjacent hallway or room, the space will feel less cramped.
Tuesday, May 10, 2011
Decorating Without Breaking the Bank
Just because you’ve filled your home with low cost furniture doesn’t mean your space is complete—you still have to decorate! Follow our tips for decorating your space without breaking the bank.
• Have shells and sea glass lying around from your last beach vacation? Make use of it by creating a display on an entry way table or bathroom counter. Bonus: it will remind you of your vacation all year long.
• Want to introduce a new color to your living room or bedroom without spending a lot? Brightly colored lampshades will pop and redefine your space.
• Make your own coatrack. Seriously. Even if you aren’t crafty, it is easy to glue found materials like stones and pieces of driftwood to a plank of wood to create a natural-looking coatrack that serves as a utility and conversation piece. Have kids? Make it an after-school craft project.
• Is your place tight on space? Prop up a large mirror to open it up. This decorating trick will create imaginary square footage and brighten your room.
• Don’t have enough cash to purchase artwork? Hang like-colored plates or oriental rugs on your walls for a dramatic (and inexpensive) answer to artwork.
• Have shells and sea glass lying around from your last beach vacation? Make use of it by creating a display on an entry way table or bathroom counter. Bonus: it will remind you of your vacation all year long.
• Want to introduce a new color to your living room or bedroom without spending a lot? Brightly colored lampshades will pop and redefine your space.
• Make your own coatrack. Seriously. Even if you aren’t crafty, it is easy to glue found materials like stones and pieces of driftwood to a plank of wood to create a natural-looking coatrack that serves as a utility and conversation piece. Have kids? Make it an after-school craft project.
• Is your place tight on space? Prop up a large mirror to open it up. This decorating trick will create imaginary square footage and brighten your room.
• Don’t have enough cash to purchase artwork? Hang like-colored plates or oriental rugs on your walls for a dramatic (and inexpensive) answer to artwork.
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