Decor on a Budget

The winter holidays have always been my favorite time of year. I was so looking forward to having my own home and creating an amazing home decorated with all of the latest trends. Once making the move, I realized how expensive it was to keep up with current trends. This holiday season, I decided to look at three different trends and come up with my own, thrifty spin on them.

My first project was a beautiful holiday wreath. Many stores are selling lavish wreaths with large Christmas bulbs and ribbon threaded through. They are incredibly beautiful, but also very expensive. To create a similar look, I visited my local dollar store and also the thrift store. I found an old wreath at the thrift store for $1.00. It wasn’t the most fashionable, but provided a great base for what I wanted to do. I purchased Christmas ribbon and beautiful round ornaments at the local dollar store. Once I got them home, I simply wrapped the purchased ribbon around the wreath and attached the bulbs with hot glue. Once all of the bulbs had been attached, I wound the ribbon through them and secured with hot glue. The wreath turned out beautifully and cost less than $10.00.

Although I have been decorating on a budget, we have been able to have a beautiful home that provides the true spirit of the season. There is no reason to spend a lot of money on expensive decorations, when you can create memories with your family making duplicates much cheaper.

Lift Your Autumn Spirits: DIY

Do you feel uneasy in your home? If so, you make be able to make some simple changes to improve its look and feel. These changes may range from buying new appliances to painting a wall. Consider how these simple changes can improve the overall appearance of the home and lift your spirits.

Paint a Wall

This is an inexpensive do-it-yourself project that does not require much skill or effort. Every fall many people repaint their homes. This autumn also try painting an accent wall with a vibrant color such as lime green, red, sky blue or yellow. Vibrant colors are in this season. Grab a paintbrush and maybe even some friends and paint a wall. Your mood will be lifted by the vibrant colors. 

Add Plants

Nothing adds life to a room faster than houseplants. The plants help us breathe cleaner air, and the plants help to improve the mood of people in the room. The project is simple for those who want to add hanging plants to the home. Many do-it-yourselfers will paint ceramic or decoupage plastic containers to hold the plants. Depending on the number you complete and the complexity, a single project would take one day.

Reupholster Your Couch

If you want a new look, try reupholstering the couch. Bright and bold solid colors or prints are also popular this season. Try integrating this trend on the couch. It is a great way to update something old and make it new again. The material will be much cheaper than buying a new couch. Reupholstering is recommended only if the basic construction of the couch is still intact. Consider this simple DIY project to give the room a makeover.

DIY This Weekend

If you have nothing better to do, try a DIY project this weekend and then, host some friends for a small gathering. The new update may make the room better for entertaining guests and also make the room feel more festive. Have some fun and try a new project this weekend.

 

My Favorite Travel Apps

As more and more people are using smartphones, the number of travel apps and mobile social media applications continues to increase. There are a number of popular options that will make your travel experience seamless and more interactive. Here are just a few of them.Hope you guys enjoy!!

Instagram

Allowing you to share all of your smartphone photos with family and friends via Facebook and Twitter with just a touch of a button. Use one or more of the app’s numerous filters to alter your photos before you share them with the world. Make sure to share only your best vacation photos and to scatter them throughout each day so your followers keep paying attention to your posts. Get even more out of the app by following and interacting with fellow Instagram users.

Tout

This app features the ability to make 15-second video status updates. This may seem like a very short period of time, but it is not so different from the 140 character limit on Twitter. Similar to Instagram, you can create the video right on your phone and then share it on Facebook and Twitter with a simple button click. While you’re traveling, it can be fun to view videos from other users who have posted from the same locations.

Foursquare

This app gives you the tools to locate numerous things to do in many locations throughout the world. “Check in” at various venues to get “badges” through the app. Many companies provide special offers when customers use check ins, such as a free coffee the first time you check in with them. Don’t forget to use the Explore option, which has categories such as Food, Top Picks, and Nightlife. Make sure to leave feedback about your experiences at various venues to assist further Foursquare users. Similar to Foursquare, Yelp provides reviews and tips for a wide variety of businesses. However, it offers more information in greater detail than Foursquare. Browse categories and recent activity for your current location. Join the Yelp community by contributing your own reviews and ratings for the places that you visit.

What To Expect from Brooklyn, NY

Hey everyone…So I thought I would give you guys a look at what to expect from the neighborhood in terms of style, cuisine, interior home design, shopping and activities. A lot of people tend to ask me for some tips on what to do and where the best places to be when in the Brooklyn area.

Hope you enjoy what I have to share!!

Style

Brooklyn’s style is casual-chic. Many people wear trendy sneakers as they walk through the up and coming neighborhoods. People are, for the most part, friendly and promote a communal atmosphere.

Many people prefer shopping in Brooklyn because it is different from Madison Avenue or Soho in Manhattan. Many people living in Brooklyn enjoy shopping in Williamsburg, Carroll Gardens, Fort Greene, Cobble Hill, Park Slope and Prospect Heights. Williamsburg is known for its vintage shopping. Many people enjoy the flea markets in Brooklyn, but these flea markets are atypical. The markets carry authentic vintage and high quality goods. Many people flock to the Brooklyn Flea for this reason.

Brooklyn does not have several antiques stores, but there are numerous furniture stores with modern pieces featured at affordable prices. IKEA is another popular store in the area. Fifth Avenue is one of the more popular shopping venues. The neighborhoods are highly walkable, and stores can be reached easily.

People need sneakers to walk the area in comfort. To find trendy sneakers, try Fulton Mall.

Food

The food in Brooklyn varies. Popular food choices allow a wide variety and include Cuban, Mexican, Spanish or Tapas Style, Japanese and American Fare. Whichever you may desire can be found in the Brooklyn area. Some of the best restaurants in Brooklyn include:  Le Bernadin, Per Se, Dressler, Bozu, El Almacen, Zenkichi and Five Leaves.

Atlantic Avenue at Clinton Street is known for ethnic food such as Middle Eastern and Russian. Brooklyn is also known for its Italian food, Irish food, Pakistani food, Norwegian food, African food, Caribbean fare and halal stores. Chocolate lovers and pastry lovers will find treats in Williamsburg, Park Slope, DUMBO, Gowanus and Red Hook. Polish kielbasa and breads can be found on Manhattan Avenue.

Home Design

Some of the most impressive interior designs in Brooklyn are based upon art deco and minimalist principles. The lines of furniture featured in Brooklyn apartments are clean and sharp and give the edgy town credit to the artistic reputation it holds. The spaces are open and wide to complement these pieces.

Activities in Brooklyn

Living in Brooklyn gives residents the opportunity to engage in theater, film, dance and music activities. The Brooklyn Book Festival always seems to attract numerous supporters for Brooklyn’s writers. Many residents also enjoy the annual art shows at Brooklyn’s Waterfront Coalition. The Brooklyn Academy of Music features the BAM Dance Africa to attract people who love dance and the arts.

Williamsburg, NY

DIY Wall Art

Some of the latest design trends do not require a designer. Some homes feature some “project areas” that can get the entire family involved. When homeowners use DIY designs, their homes are uniquely designed for their preferences, much like a typical creative dweller. Let’s take a look at some of the DIY design elements that are present in some homes today.

 

Words on Canvas

With this latest design trend, homeowners can reveal their inner Picasso by painting a few words on canvases. The project is easy to complete and adds considerable flair to any room. Many minimalist designers love this idea because not only are the canvases visually appealing, but also inspiring. The quotes or one-word statements can be written in standard free-hand or stencil.

The design choice and colors will depend on the homeowners’ preferences. Creating wall hangings will allow homeowners to save money.To create the wall hangings, many homeowners use inspiration from magazines. Alternatively, allowing them to come up with statements without inspiration.

The wall hangings require a blank canvas, paint, paintbrush and creativity. The blank canvas can be obtained from an art supply store or a store such as Michael’s. The background can be painted first and should dry overnight. Some people may choose to decoupage newspaper on the canvas.  The lettering can be added on the next day. To add the lettering, many people will use stencils or free-hand sketches. Many people use lead or charcoal for the outline and paint within the lines onto the canvas. After the words are complete, the masterpiece should be allowed to dry. When the canvas is dry, it can be hung in any room of the home.

Many people enjoy using three or four consecutive wall hangings in a row to add artistic flair. “Words on Canvas” is a unique and cost-effective way to decorate homes, and it is a new trend in the New York and Brooklyn areas. Since the designer is you, you can save $6,500 on interior decorator fees. However, if an interior decorator is needed for the other aspects of your home décor, he or she can guide you in this phase of the project. Simply convey your idea to the interior decorator and he or she can recommend the best colors or approach for the project.

 

Consider Words on Canvas for Your Next Interior Design Project

Getting involved in your home decorating projects is not a bad idea. It can save money, and it can be therapeutic. Many people would enjoy this type of project from a hobby perspective. Consider Words on Canvas for your next project and watch the room transform.