Warm up your Home for Autumn

As summer winds down, it seems that we start to dread the chill winds of fall and winter, even though the thermometer is proving that it is still the summer season.

But the kids are back to school and many of us are taking advantage of the extra time during the day to regain possession of the house, lawn and garden and put everything to rights. Before tossing anything into the trash headed to the landfill, consider its use to bring warmth to the house by means of changing the decor with homemade crafts.

Recycled materials from closets and gardens are ideal for bringing warmth and coziness into room décor. Country, primitive and rustic styles make good use of previously used materials. Worn clothing can be cut into quilting squares for pillows, wall hangings, curtains and blankets. Nothing invites relaxation like the site of a quilt draped over a chair, sofa or bed.

The stack of crafts the kids assembled during rainy summer afternoons can be incorporated into rooms as works of art. Frame those old pictures, display the clay sculptures and painted rocks and create a welcoming display in the guest bedroom, or even on the stairway wall.

Bring the outdoors in to create a rustic look in the home. Cut and dry flowers to display during the winter months. Cut back the grapevine and create wreaths. They’re not just for Christmas display and not just for walls. Hang them from any hook or finial. Decorate them with the dried flowers and you have country charm for any room in the house.

Tie flower stems together with twine, dry them and use them as an aromatic homemade fire starter this winter.

If the fence or gate needs replacing, use the boards to create rustic shelving or picture frames. Larger pieces can be used as headboards for the bed.

Large planter pots can be cleaned and used by the entry to hold the umbrellas that will need a handy place to live during autumn showers. The picnic basket is the perfect place to store and display dried flowers and pine cones. Both will also serve as charming organizers for extra gloves, mittens, hats and scarves during the winter months. Double duty means the containers will be available for their original use when winter is over.

There is no limit to what you can do if you remember to use it well, use it up, and then find another use for it.

Be Creative and Repurpose

Just because a piece of furniture is sold for a certain purpose doesn’t mean you have to use it that way. One of the best deals I ever found was a layette constructed of wood.  It stood out from the other items at a garage sale I just happened to drive by. Always on the lookout for a bargain, I pulled over.

The beautiful piece didn’t have a pad, and as the woman who was holding the rummage sale came over the first thing she did was apologize and offer me a discount. I didn’t show my surprise, and I was surprised. I thought it was a dresser and was looking for something for my bedroom. The piece was priced at $50.00.

I commented that it seemed like an unusual size and wondered if a replacement pad would be easy to find. The woman said that she had never found a replacement pad for it, and that was why she was selling it. She also pointed out a scratch on the side that I hadn’t noticed and offered it to me for $25. I smiled and accepted.

I used the layette for several years in my bedroom. It had 3 rows of nice sized drawers. I especially liked the 4-1/2 inch lip on the back and sides. They kept all of the odds and ends that end up on the top of a bedroom dresser from falling down behind the piece.

Repurpose

A few years later I found another great deal on a chest of drawers at a rummage sale and the layette was transferred to my entry way. I hung a mirror over it, placed a colorful bowl on it to hold my car keys, and it was a convenient place to drop my mail and purse when I came home. The drawers offered me additional storage space in an area that would otherwise be wasted.

From the entry, the piece was moved to the dining area to serve as a side board. I installed a shelf above it and filled it with greenery, candlesticks and at one time it even showed off pieces of my salt and pepper shaker collections.

Repurpose Again

I don’t have the piece anymore. I gave it to a friend when I moved. She had just decided to provide day care for her new grandbaby while mom went back to work. The layette is back to serving its original purpose. By the way, she had no problem finding a replacement mat for the piece.

The Empty Picture Frame as Art

A grouping of empty picture frames painted the same color as the wall on which they're hung can bring texture into your room without costing a lot of money. A grouping of mismatched frames, all in the same color gives the illusion of an architectural element.

Empty picture frames are cheap. In fact, most people have a box of them on a shelf in the garage or in the attic. Find used frames at thrift stores and garage sales. If you have no luck searching there, go to the local dollar store and pick out a collection. The frames don't have to match. The paint will bring the look together.

Picture frames painted with the same paint of the wall will give the illusion of a sculptured wall, almost making it look like it was built into the space. The same holds true if the frames are covered with the same paint used on the trim, railings or fireplace mantle. Read More 

Keep it Chic and Clean with Homemade Natural Cleaning Products

The clean and uncluttered room is a chic room, no matter how it's decorated. Once you've achieved the decorating look that makes the room inviting to you, make sure that it's inviting to your guests, too.

Save money by making environmentally safe cleaning products with items that you probably already have on hand to keep everything smelling fresh and clean.

Home made cleaning product are so popular that I thought I'd share a few more ideas with you to keep your homes clean and safe from dangerous chemicals.

Home Made Natural Cleaning Products

Earth Friendly Cleaners for the Home

Mar 30, 2009 Patrice Campbell

Green Cleaners - Bianca de Blok

What could be more environmentally friendly than using natural products to clean the home? Cleaners for every circumstance can be based on just four ingredients.

While green cleaning supplies are increasingly easy to find on the market, homemade products are far more economical. Recycle the container that held the previously used chemical cleaner to store the new batch of green cleaning supplies.

Read more at Suite101: Home Made Natural Cleaning Products: Earth Friendly Cleaners for the Homehttp://www.suite101.com/content/home-made-natural-cleaning-products-a106148#ixzz1EX5E94Xj

Decorating Tip: Homemade Natural Cleaning Products

The best decorating tip to make your home look warm and inviting is to keep it neat, clean and smelling fresh. Before you even begin refurbishing your room and it's contents, get rid of the clutter and give everything a thorough cleaning.

You're not going to want chemicals lingering in your home, so use natural cleaners whenever possible.
Save some money to spend on your decorating projects by using homemade natural cleaners. Learn how to make them from natural products that may already be in your cupboards.

Springtime Fresh Natural Kitchen Cleaners

Homemade Green Cleaners for Domestic Cleaning

Apr 13, 2009 Patrice Campbell

Home Made Green Cleaners -Agata Urbaniak

The spring cleaning is done, but keeping the shine and freshness is an ongoing process. Non toxic cleaning with natural cleansers make environmental and economical sense.

Expand on the basic homemade natural cleaners already in your green cleaning cupboard with environmentally friendly products for maintaining a cleaner home.

Sparkling Fresh DishesShow off the beauty of dishes and cookware without stains or waterspots.

Read more at Suite101: Springtime Fresh Natural Kitchen Cleaners: Homemade Green Cleaners for Domestic Cleaning http://www.suite101.com/content/springtime-fresh-natural-kitchen-cleaners-a109396#ixzz1EX2LPnvk