Get Your Outdoor Living Space Ready for Summer

Summer is drawing near. Right now is a great time to start getting that outdoor living space ready for the warm season -- gardens, porches, outdoor kitchens and all.

Let's start with the garden. 

I'm sure you have a fairly good idea how to plant seeds and make them grow into pretty flowers and such. But what about lighting? Not only gardens, but any outdoor living space will benefit from LED lighting: walkways, patios, pools and other water features. Combining lighting techniques in the garden (or wherever) creates visual interest. Learn more about setting up outdoor garden lighting.

Want to bring more color to the patio?

There are so many ways you can bring colors other than green to your outdoor living space. You're not just limited to planting -- or hanging -- flowers here, either. Think about all the fun elements you can bring into this area: water, stone, tile and so on. Need more ideas? You can read about the various ways to bring color to the outdoors right here.

Freshen your porch for summer.

Freshening this area of your outdoor space can give your home new life without a complete facelift. For starters, you can re-paint or stain the wood for a fresh look. And you can add flowers or greenery to add life and color. How else can you freshen your porch to get it ready for summer? Find out here.

Copyright: istockphoto.com/andykazie

What are some ways you get your outdoor living space ready for summer?

Pirate Ship Bedrom Design Theme by Designer Steve Kuhl

Some lucky six-year-old just got the bedroom of his dreams - actual floating "pirate" ship included. Designer Steve Kuhl created this nautical sensation, complete with a rope bridge, crow's nest and all.

How can you create a dream ship bedroom for your own child? 

 While Kuhl's design may be a little over-the-top for the average homeowner, you can give your own child the nautical room of his or her dreams with some changes that better fit your budget.

• Let's start with the focal point: the bed. Your child will love to role play in a room with these toddler and children's pirate ship beds.
• For the walls, ocean colored paint or rustic wainscoting will fit in with the nautical bedroom theme. You might even expand on the out-to-sea feel by either painting fish and ocean creatures on the walls, or attaching ocean-inspired wall clings.
• Lantern-shaped wall sconces or pendant lights are reminiscent of the bedroom's theme.
• For decor, think hanging ropes, lighthouses, compasses and even glowing stars for the ceiling.

Personally, I think Kuhl's design is really fun and unique - really! - but maybe a bit much for a kid's bedroom. The whole ship thing probably wasn't exactly cheap, so what happens when this kid outgrows the nautical theme?

Maybe it isn't a problem for these homeowners, and if that's the case, it's all fine and good. But I prefer to stick with timeless decor and themes that can easily be changed out in a few years when the kids are too old to play pirate. How about you? Tell me about your child's bedroom theme.

Temporary Solutions

Turning a Rental Into a Home with Small Decorative Changes

Since I graduated High School, I've lived in six different temporary homes. All in less than five years.

I probably don't have to tell you, but this is coming from personal experience. I have come to the realization that it is somewhat difficult to really settle down and make a home for yourself when you don't stay in one place for more than a year. This time around, though, I planned on staying for at least two years.

So I put hours into painting the entire main living area. Lots of money, too.

Sherwin-Williams Kilim Beige.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And I put more money into decorating the place. Fortunately, I've been doing all this over the span of nearly a year, and I got a lot of these things for free, or nearly free.

Unfortunately, I don't think I'll be here for two years, either. 

I won't go into detail, because nothing is set into stone yet, but my point is there are ways you can put your own personal touches in an apartment or rental home without putting too much time or money into it.

The first thing to keep in mind is there are some things you cannot change about a rental home. So, work with the things you do have control over: paint color (if painting is allowed), furniture, window treatments, accessories and wall hangings.

Use these things to express your personality. As money allows, swap that your great-grandparents' old sofa for something you love. Is there a print in a calendar you love and cannot bear to toss? Tear it out and frame the picture so you can keep it without cluttering your apartment.

Finally, take your time. If you don't plan on sticking around for long, you will no sooner finish decorating and it will be time to pack up and move on. So, I'm not putting much more time or money into this place. I'll take what I have and pick up where I left off in another rental.

Learn more about decorating a rental to reflect your style.

Do you know what you want?

"If you have marvelous taste and know exactly what you want, you don't need a designer." ~Billy Baldwin

So, then why are there people who design professionally? As someone who graduated with a degree in Interior Design, here is my best answer:

We are there for the people who do not have marvelous taste, and those who have no clue what they want.

I won't ramble on, since I'm still working on setting up this blog, but I just wanted to share that bit of wisdom. Honestly, there are no rules to decorating - we are simply there to guide you along. If you can get it to fit, and if you like it, then go for it. I'll leave you with one more quote...


"Taste is a sharpened eye for the beautiful, the interesting, and the unusual - coupled with the talent to apply all of these to one's life." ~Eleanor Lambert, founder of the International Best-Dressed List