by: Keller Hawthorne
Many of you probably remember visiting your grandma's house as a child. I can still see how my grandmother had decorated her home. Every inch of surface and space was filled! The mantle, the kitchen counters, and of course the floor. She was a self-proclaimed pack-rat! When you walk into a home drowning in "stuff", it immediately bombards you and creates overwhelming vibes. So, how do we show every little nick knack we love, without going overboard?
I have a very strict rule with myself that every surface in my home should be clean and almost completely cleared. I enjoy showing off my candles, vases, and other items. However, I have learned when it becomes too much. As a teenager I had covered every inch of my dressers and desk with decorations. My bedroom had become more of a showplace then a home. My decorations were nicely placed as sort of a retail window display, but I could never find a place to set something down.. Which of course meant the floor was the only other option. As you can imagine, my old room never stayed clean for very long. Years later, when I got my own place, I was finally sick of my beautiful items appearing more as clutter then as strategically placed home decorations. I cleared my surfaces and started fresh!
I now place only a few of my "can't live without" decor pieces on my desk, dressers, dining table, and kitchen counters. The rest have been stored away. If you don't think you can part with your treasures, remember these great benefits to the "minimal design":
1. Once you have items stored away, you can replace which items you show off each season, which will give your home a new and fresh look. Mix and match and it will look as if you redecorate every month, just by switching which items you have out!
2. When you place a ton of distinct and unique items together, they each lose their charm and eye-catching appeal. If you want people to notice your great design sense and adorable treasures, make sure they can actually see them amongst every other item you have in your home.
3. Your home will appear more spacious and much tidier with this method. Plus, now you can see that beautiful wood table you've been covering up!
4. You can actually set stuff down! And to make sure you don't get in the habit of making a mess, set designated decorative baskets for items such as car keys.
It is easy to get caught up with buying every little nick knack you can find and covering your dressers with jewelry boxes and the dozens of perfume bottles you simply have to keep. But, keep in mind that a cluttered home can infringe on your efficiency as a home business owner, full time parent, or simply a person who needs to find their shoes! But remember, you don't have to throw these items out. Spend some time today removing half of the things you have displayed on your surfaces. Neatly store them in an easy access linen closet for future use. In a few months, when you feel like you need a change, replace the decorations with your stored items and voila! It will look as if you just redecorated. By using the "minimal design" you will be surprised out how much better your home will look and feel!
About The Author
Keller Hawthorne is the owner of http://www.kbhoutlet.com, which specializes in Elegant Home Decor Accents, Outdoor Garden Decorations and Wood Furniture. Find more home decorating and gardening ideas at our Resource Center, http://www.kbhoutlet.com/resource_center.html. Copyright © 2006 The KBH Outlet Please keep hyperlinks active and content as is when reprinting this article.
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How to Have a Successful Fundraiser
How to Have a Successful Fundraiser
by: Paul Jensen
To achieve a successful fundraiser you need to create
awareness and excitement.
Some things to consider:
When planning a fundraiser the most important
question you need to answer is: How much money
do you need to raise?
How many people do you have that can help carry out
the fundraiser?
When will the fundraiser start and when will it
end? It is generally a good idea to have the fundraiser
last
2 weeks or less. With a smaller window of
opportunity, people are more inclined to act immediately.
It is important to get a commitment to the fundraiser the
first time, and eliminate the need for a second sales pitch.
Collect the payment at the point of sale. This
eliminates the need to collect payment at the time of
delivery...
How to Have a Successful Fundraiser
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Domain Registration - How to Register A New Domain Name for Your Website
Domain Registration - How to Register A New Domain Name for Your Website
by: Benjamin Chapi
Domain names are site names that provide rememberable names to stand in for numeric IP addresses. Before getting a web site on line you need to have a domain name. These are the familiar web addresses such as yahoo.com that most browsers use to find a particular web site. Domain names, in fact, are pointers to a particular IP address and we use them because they are easier to remember than a series of numbers. The Domain Name System (DNS) is a system that stores information associated with domain names in a distributed database on networks, such as the Internet. The DNS is what makes it possible to attach hard-to-remember IP addresses (such as 193.456.28.8.) to easy-to-remember domain names (such as "web-hosting-guide.org")
All websites have an IP address...
Domain Registration - How to Register A New Domain Name for Your Website
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Organize Your Christmas Shopping
Organize Your Christmas Shopping
by: Nicole Dean
Grab a notebook. Grab a pen. It's time to get serious about your Christmas shopping by making your list (and checking it twice).
Make a list of the people you'll be buying for this year. Leave space between each person?s name. Now go back through the list and write down gift ideas and a rough dollar amount you?re willing to spend on each person.
Example:
1. Aunt Fran - Collects lighthouses, loves golf - $30.00
2. Beth - Candles, bath and body products - $20.00
3. Joe - Something for his new truck, loves fishing - $50.00
Bring your notebook shopping with you. It will help you to stay focused on who you need to shop for, a general idea of what you're looking for and your price range. Making a detailed list like this will prove invaluable in keeping you organized and on budget with your Christmas shopping. As you shop, cross off each person on your list. Be sure to...
Organize Your Christmas Shopping
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How to Plan Outdoor Holiday Decorating for Your Home and Stay Within Your Budget
How to Plan Outdoor Holiday Decorating for Your Home and Stay Within Your Budget
by: Patty Gale
When I was a little girl, I remember my dad taking us for drives at night throughout our neighborhood to see the houses decorated for Christmas.
There were some that had a simple wreath on the front door and some that looked like Santa?s Workshop on the front lawn.
I was always amazed at the beautiful lights, glistening snow, and holiday music.
It wasn?t until I was an adult that I realized those beautiful displays took a lot more organizing, planning and money than I thought.
Whether you live in a cold or warm climate, you don?t have to break the bank in order to create a cozy and beautiful outdoor holiday display for your home.
Here?s how.
Create a plan.
You need to decide how much money you can comfortably spend.
Many people wind up over-spending during the holidays, use credit cards and...
Candles > How to Plan Outdoor Holiday Decorating for Your Home and Stay Within Your Budget
5 Top Tips To Boost Your Spirits
5 Top Tips To Boost Your Spirits
by: Christopher Green
If you?re feeling like everything is getting on top of you, or you?re finding it difficult to cope or function, or you?re feeling down in the dumps, then try these 5 easy-to-do tips to relieve tension and stress and boost your spirits:
1. Take a relaxing bath. Add music, candles and a glass of your favourite drink: beer, tea, hot chocolate, wine or even champagne. Close the door and forget about everything else for an hour or so. This helps to increase levels of calmness and the calmer we feel, the less likely we are to get stressed out or depressed.
2. Comedy night: get in your favourite nibbles: chips, tortillas, salsa, crackers, cheese, pizza, chocolate, cookies, ice cream etc. Crack open a bottle of wine or pour yourself a beer or two and spend a full evening watching your favourite funny films or comedians. Laughter raises our spirits and is a great antidote to the stresses and...
5 Top Tips To Boost Your Spirits
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Lake Vouliagmeni And Its Medicinal Waters
Lake Vouliagmeni And Its Medicinal Waters
by: Jakob Jelling
The Lake Vouliagmeni is not only famous as a very beautiful spot but also but also as containing medicinal waters. This spot has been visited by people who wish to enjoy its waters for centuries, and is one of the most attractive areas in the Greek region of Peloponnese. Visitors approach in order to enjoy its beautiful shores, practice different water sports, relax in front of unique landscapes, taste...
lake tahoe Lake Vouliagmeni And Its Medicinal Waters Home Decorating: Where Are My Surfaces?
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oil prices Home Decorating: Where Are My Surfaces?
Alcoholic Drinks And Its Effect on Your Weight Loss Program
Alcoholic Drinks And Its Effect on Your Weight Loss Program
by: Tracy Lee
Did you know that the alcoholic drinks and cocktails that's being offered to you contain an incredible number of calories? If you are not careful, the party drinks can be an absolute killer for your weight loss plans during this holiday season.
"I'll just have a little..."
If you are not careful, this little phrase can be an absolute killer for your weight loss plans during...
water Alcoholic Drinks And Its Effect on Your Weight Loss Program Home Decorating: Where Are My Surfaces? Candles
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How To Quit Smoking - The Nicotine Patch
How To Quit Smoking - The Nicotine Patch
by: Brandon C. Hall
Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances known. Study after study shows that one can get addicted to nicotine as quickly as cocaine and other illegal drugs that we generally associate with crippling addictions. It is for this reason, of course, that is can be so difficult to quit smoking. One top of this physical addiction - that is, the body's craving of nicotine - there is a psychological...
hearing aid How To Quit Smoking - The Nicotine Patch
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