Quick bedroom makeover

When was the last time you gave your bedroom a makeover?

~ Add new sheets & pillowcases perhaps in a new color scheme.

~ Purchase a matching bed skirt to add color & hide your metal bed frame.  To me, the bed skirt is like the mascara, it really finishes the look.

~ Pillows.  Now is the time to bring out your personality.  Add "pops" of color.  Mix & match various fabrics.  Add pillows with "bling".  Go with a monotone look for a sense of calm.  You decide, have fun with it.


Additional tips:

*Solid colors or striped sheets work best.

*Limit color scheme to two colors.

*Hang a mirror opposite a window to reflect light.


~Do you have any additional tips you would like to share?  I would love to hear from you!

Updating your front door

Looking at your home from the outside, do you feel like there needs to be more color?  Have you ever considered brightening the color of your front door?  Here are some tips to quickly transform your entrance way:


The door:

When choosing a new door color, choose a contrasting, bright accent color.  Do not paint the door the same color as the surrounding trim.  Try a warm color like a deep red.

What you'll need:
* one quart of primer
* one quart of oil-based paint

Apply three coats of paint for durability & best color.


The knob & knocker:

To brighten your door, polish your doorknob & knocker with a bottle of brass polish.


Accents:

Try adding a planter or two to add accents to your entrance.  Your planter should be at least two feet high & its color should not match the door.  For a wonderful fragrance, every time you pass by, consider planting rosemary. 

Decorating with pillows, how many to use?

This is one of my first posts and it ties in nicely with a "blog readers special" (see above for the special) that I'm having.  Since I have many more followers, I am reposting it.

Why decorate with pillows?

Decorating with pillows is one of the quickest, cost effective ways to change the look of your rooms. You can choose to make your room warm and inviting, add a "pop" of color, add "interest", etc.



To decorate with pillows first you need to determine your color scheme and style. Next, think about layering. Choose pillows in various sizes, styles and complementary or contrasting colors. Choosing a solid or subtle print, can be used as a "back drop" to a busier fabric or to highlight a particularly interesting pillow. Use oblong (12"x22" or 12"x16", lumbar) pillows for back support or to line the back of a sofa, chair, bed or bench.

12" x 22" on a seat gives you that support you may need and adds a bit of interest.

12" x 16" in a rocker is perfect to support your lower back and makes the seat more inviting.

 

How many pillows do I need?

For a formal look, use symmetry - two pillows on each corner and one in the center. For an informal look, use more color schemes and place randomly. Using odd numbers in either case is appealing to the eye.

Seeing the progression of adding pillows one at a time shows how the furniture becomes more inviting.

Odd number of pillows, formal look.

Odd number of pillows in a symmetrical setting.

An even number of pillows in an informal setting.

Here's a great example of a complementing contrast, mixing traditional and modern.

~It's a personal preference, which speaks to you? Leave your comments below. ~

More information about these pillows may be found here.

http://www.sewninspirations.com/

Taking care of your furniture & cleaning tips

How to keep your upholstered furniture clean & in great condition can be confusing.  Here are some tips on how to prolong the life of your furniture & keep it looking good.


Couch (sofa) cushions - turn & rotate cushions periodically to evenly distribute wear.



Upholstered furniture - Remove dust by vacuuming regularly with brush attachment.  Did you know that dust wears down the fibers on fabric over time?



Spills -  gently blot with a clean, dry & absorbent 100% cotton cloth.  Do not rub. 


Do you have any tips to share?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Please check-out my free shipping offer:  http://www.SewnInspirations.com
Plus in addition to my "overstuffed summer sale", I will be offering periodic extra specials to my blog followers during this time.

How to clean upholstered furniture

There are various ways to clean your upholstered furniture, depending on how the fabric is coded.

To find the fabric code, look for the tag on your furniture. There should be a line that states "fabric care" followed by one or two letters.

If you are looking for home decor fabric, the hang tag or special order hanger will also include this code.

This is what your code means & how to clean that fabric.

Fabric Cleaning Codes:

S - Vacuum; spot clean with water-free agent; professional cleaning recommended.

W - Vacuum; spot clean with a water-based agent; professoinal cleaning recommended.

WS - Depending on stain, usa a water-based solution, dry cleaning solvent or upholstery shampoo.

X - Vacuum; cleaning agents should not be used; professional cleaning recommeded.

SW - Spot clean with the foam only of a water-based cleaning agent or with a pure solvent in a well ventilated room; professional furniture cleaning service only is recommded.

Next post: fabric care & cleaning tips.

~~ Outdoor fabric care , part 2~~

Love those outdoor pillows.  They create an inviting place to sit & spruce up your tired looking furniture. 


Do you know how to clean your outdoor pillows & cushions?  Here is some information on care of your outdoor fabric.  Some tips may surprise you....



The majority of the fabric I use is Richloom Solarium Outdoor Fabric. Below are suggested care instructions and facts regarding outdoor fabric:


• 100% Spun Polyester

• Vacuum, Spot Clean With Water Free Agent, Professional Cleaning Recommended

• Made in USA




This outdoor fabric from Richloom is solution dyed (solution-dye process is when the color is manufactured into and throughout the fiber, the color is part of the finished fabric). This gives the fiber consistent and durable color that stands up in tough environments, such as sustained direct sunlight. This fabric will withstand 5,000 hours sunlight and is perfect for porches, patios, deck side, pool side and boat side. This fabric is durable, water repellent and mildew resistant; it is designed to withstand harsh environmental effects.

~Spun Polyester is a 100% polyester material that has a soft fabric feel. It is an easy care fabric but should be cleaned regularly to keep it looking fresh and new.

~Printed Spun Poly is the same fabric that has its pattern printed on the surface. As with all printing inks (even light-fast inks), fading will occur over time. This can be prevented with the regular application of Solar Shield® fabric protectant.

~Clean with 50% combination of water and mild soap or detergent. For stains, a mild solution of bleach may be used.

Do not use bleach on printed fabrics!

http://www.sewninspirations.com/

Outdoor fabric is available in the latest color trends for stylish outdoor rooms.

Customize your own outdoor pillows - you choose the fabric & size.

~~ Outdoor Fabric, part 1 ~~

When researching on how to care for outdoor fabric, I was surprised to find out what I thought you should do - was wrong.  For the next couple of days I will give you some info on how to take care of your outdoor pillows & cushions.  I'll start off with a "did you know?"....
 

Did you know that mold and mildew CANNOT grow on synthetic fibers (that's what outdoor fabric is made of)? It's not the cushions that are going moldy - it's the dirt and pollen caught in the fibers that the mold spores live and grow on. Keep them clean and you'll never have this problem.  (How to do that?  Check in tomorrow & I'll give you the full scoop.)

~ New floral inspirations, decorative pillow collections & the outdoors ~

It's been awhile since I've added some tips.  Spring happened.  I stopped to enjoy the beauty around me. To me, the year begins in the spring.  There's something about the warmer temperatures, the budding of the flowers & trees; new life.



Shabby Chic, cottage style decorative pillow collections.

  Inspired by the flowers, I began creating collections in pastels & florals.

A bit bolder.  You won't find this collection on my site (sent to a cute shop), but it can easily be replicated (custom orders are always welcome).

This summer floral started me off on the outdoor pillow collections.  In the next posts, I will be discussing caring for outdoor fabric. 

Can't wait to see you then!





~What has inspired you lately?~

~~Decorating with small items~~

Grouping small like items together can make a big impact.  Sometimes, though, it's challenge to figure out how to display these knick-knacks in a creative way.  Here are some ideas, using what you can find around your home:

Wall pouches decorative balls

                                                 Decorative boxes with handmade hearts

Try creating a complete setting displaying your collections.

                                        Decorative bowls  decorative balls

                                                   Shells in milk glass bowl or clear bowl.

Tea cups on a silver tray.

. 

 

                                 

~What creative ways have you displayed small items?  I would love to hear your ideas.

 

 

~~ Vaulted ceilings & window treatments ~~

Have a vaulted ceiling and you're not sure what to do about window treatments?
Think that your curtains will get lost if you just frame the window?

Here's a quick idea to think about:

Try placing your window treatments above the doorway or window frame.  Try at least a foot above but you'll have to judge it according to how tall your ceiling and windows are.  Doing this will help fill in this space and it can also make your ceilings look higher.



Happy decorating!

~~ Refreshing your home's decor ~~

The cold days of winter is a great time to take a look around your home and see what needs to be refreshed.  Here are a few inexpensive ideas:

~Move accessories from one room to another.

~Change the color of a home decor item with a little paint.

~Change the knobs on your cabinets. 

~Rearrange your furniture, try angling the furniture for a different look.

*What are your ideas for a quick home decor makeover?



White Sale!

For Saturday Blog Shoppers

Change the look of your rooms,

simply by adding pillows!

$5 off each pillow or pillow set

regularly priced at $20 and above

in these 2 sections:

 http://www.sewninspirations.com/decorative-pillows.html

or

http://www.sewninspirations.com/decorative-pillows-for-children.html

Refunded through Paypal
Valid through Jan. 23

If you have any questions, please contact me:

admin@SewnInspirations.com



http://www.quiltsgaloreandmore.blogspot.com/
Please click the link above to visit other handmade shops.


Enjoy your weekend!



~~ Color Trend ~~

Next color trend for 2011 is a range of light turquoise to cream with a beige-orange for the "pop" of color in this sequence.


 
Bringing these colors to your room provides a relaxing and spacious atmosphere.
 
 
 

 
Here the grays and turquoise are brought together for a modern looking room.
 
Some ideas to bring this to your room would be to paint one wall beige and the others the lighter gray.  The beige wall would bring "eye relief" and brightness to your room.  Accent with the darker tones of turquoise, orange and dark gray.  Another is to paint the walls a light turquoise and accent with cream, copper and a bit more of the turquoise using pillows and other accessories.
 
Here are some examples that use some of the colors above:  http://www.sewninspirations.com/leaves.html  and   http://www.sewninspirations.com/circles.html 
 
Happy Decorating!
 
 
I'm taking a poll on the upper left corner, I'm curious how you will vote.
 
 

~~ Color inspiration for 2011 ~~

Did you know.....?

Every year the predicted color combinations in home decor and fashion are selected.  Usually the colors for each season stay the same for that entire year but are just muted (fall & winter) and brightened (spring & summer).

Throughout this week I will bring you a different color combination for home decor that was selected.
Gray, is all the talk right now with color combinations ranging from white, black, stone & brown-gray.





 
The use of a gray palette works well in a modern setting.  Try using gray as a neutral along with bolder or busier color schemes.  The reverse could work as well.  Use gray as your main color and accent with brighter "pops" of colors.
 
 
Would you choose this color scheme?
 
 
 
I will be adding a pillow, cushion collection in gray and white and a cream collection.  Look for it soon on my website:  http://www.sewninspirations.com/