Santa collection and childrens ideas

Cannot believe it is already December 1st tomorrow.  It is hard too realize winter when you are out golfing in shorts and top on November 30, while others are hustling and bustling around.  Is does however, make outside decorating easier.  I hope to finish my trees tomorrow.  We had to refresh the wreaths today and add lights where ones had burned out.  The lights we had when I was a child, were the size of the ones we put in night lights.  If one went out, you just unscrewed it and popped a new one in.  These today that are in a series are horrible as the whole string goes out.  It is easier to buy new than to replace  single bulb that most of the time you can't find.

I have talked about collections at Christmas and traditions.  Here are some of our Santa's, that go on our plant shelves.

 

My skiers

 

Santa and the fireplace

 

 

Santa and children

 

 

 

 

Santa and kitties

 

Some of our old fashioned Santa's 

 

These are a few of the 50 or so that we have.  You can see that I don't move my regular things, I just set the Santa's either in front of them, next to them or push the regular thing back a little.  Our ceilings are 12 ft. so there is plenty of room.  I kind of group them.

 

I won't bore you with more Santa's.  Most are Clothique which is a name brand.  I have others, and they have special places around the house.

 

Do you have  collection?  Hopefully tomorrow I will finish the trees.  I want to buy a few more things for the blue tree top, but I can finish it and add that after. I will talk about the willow angels tomorrow. 

 

I saw an article in Better Hoes and Gardens, the new Christmas issue on something to keep little ones busy, and make a chain for the tree.  Take paper straws and cut them into say 2" lengths.  Get some beads and heavy thread and string the bead then the straw and keep going, it was quite nice and sure would make your little ones proud, and quiet for awhile.  I still like the paper chains out of red and green.  I think everyone has made one of those sometime in their life.  It can even work s a advent chain.  Twenty five links and cut one off each day.  It also helps in counting.

A Bit More on Trees

Believe it or not, I ventured out on Black Friday!  That is something I have never done in all the years since it started.  I needed to run to Hobby Lobby and get some more things for the top of the red tree.

 

Here is my red, white and silver tree in the living room.  It I a pre lit tree so I started decorating it from the inside with only the red balls.  I counted today and have 100 red balls on the tree.  The tree is 10 ft. tall but not super wide.  It is a narrow tree, but not that narrow.

 

This is the top of the red tree.  I started with my traditional angel and added all the red and white balls and silver sprays all from Hobby Lobby except two, they were from Kirkland's.  The red  sequined sprays I had.

This is the pencil tree that I showed you fit in a nice little space in the family room or hearth room as it may be called up north  It is all blue, yellow and gold. 

None of the trees are finished yet as I have so many ornaments that it takes days to finish the trees.  The last thing I do is add strings of beads to all trees.

I still have balls and ornaments that are 40 to 50 years old.   carefully wrap each ornament in tissue paper each year to store.  I bought one ornament box and fabricated others out of cardboard and just regular bins.

My stages in my married life of Christmas trees, was first real trees, as I still love the smell.  they don't seem to last that long here in Florida.  So we went to artificial.  This year the prelit tree had lights burned out so I had to run out and get lights.  they had to be put on before the red ornaments.
You had bigger lights years ago, not the tiny Italian lights as the first ones were called.  Then the ornaments and then the tinsel.  It was hung piece by piece.  Later on, the little lights replaced the bigger ones and garland replaced the tinsel  Now I use pearls to string around the trees.

Have you started decorating yet?  Have you learned anything at all in this special Christmas days blog?

Chair Decorating

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone, Everywhere.

I have so much to be thankful for and one that is the best for all of you is that I want to share my knowledge on design with all of you.  Since it is the holiday season, I want to share a few decorating tips so you can have a fabulous designer look for almost nothing compared to what you could pay.  some of my ideas can be transformed into any idea, color or miscellaneous item that you have or can get.

Here is one chair, sorry it is a little blurry, I guess I was tired when I took it, but the after chair is much better.  This chair sits at my kitchen desk. It is a ladder back, in a Country French Style, but a light wood.  I love to mix woods and metals.

 

This is the chair, and it is blurry so don't think your eyesight is bad.

 

This is the same chair with a Santa climbing up the side.  You can just use ribbon to fasten any thing to a chair.  If you look in magazines you will see chair hangings using pinecones, holly berry, small wreathes, flowers, or just ribbons.  All are fastened together with ribbons.  If you can't tie things on, then use your creative ability to figure something out.  f you can't, e-mail me and I will see what I can

help you figure out.

 

I will show you some other things in between.  This is a plant shelf as they are called.  The vase stays there all year, but I have added the Santa's.

 

These are the bar stools that face the kitchen, as we have an open kitchen , family room and eating area.

 

Here are the silver bows I found at Jo-Ann Fabrics for 50%off and another $5.00 off.  The ribbon was on sale also. They are made of a metal and sparkle. I was able to tie them on.

 

 

 

 

 

It adds some elegance to my home.  Fashion some to your style.  Send me some pictures and I will put them on my blog.  NSado44959@aol.com.

A Wrapping Center

This is a great picture right out of Ballard Designs for a wrapping center.

One of the great things about a picture like this is the small ideas that come from it.  Not only is it  great idea for Christmas, but a smaller version for all year.  Number one is the use of baskets.  You can always find a shelf to store baskets.  Also available are the great metal baskets that are attached to the wall for wrapping paper, and can be placed on any wall.  If you don't have space, you can even use the back of a closet.  I love the use of the shelf to hang a roll of paper on.  If you have just a fold up table that you can use when using your wrapping center.  Let me know if you have found a great place in your house.

I am just going to hang some shelves to start this project.  It is on my New Year's Resolution List.  I am either using my art room or a spare guest room.  I will keep you informed on this project.

I now have several to do projects for 2014!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Shelf One on Bakers Rack

Remember the bakers rack of the other day, here is shelf one, finished.  I decided that I was going to light each shelf instead of putting what I used to put on it.  So I have been digging through things and things are shaping up.    I may move things again, but the Santa's are in place up on the plant shelves, and here is shelf one:

This was the Santa I bought last year after Christmas.  The trees light up and are part of my Christmas Village.  I may change those as I think I have some bigger green evergreens that will look better. 

 

This is the top of our entertainment center.  The two women are Lime' s (pronounced lee may, faceless women that are about 3' tall and are from the Dominican Republic.  As far as I know, from a friend whose family still lives there is that the factory closed and they are no longer available.  I feel honored to have two of them.  They do not sit there usually, only at Christmas so I have room for other decorations.  The vase is from Germany, my husband feel in love with it and bought it for me.  It arrived here about a week after we got home from there.  I was surprised.  He put up lights on it so the silver would shine like it was made to.  It is a piece of Rosenthal.

 

I will be doing the top of this intermittently as I am going to start my trees.  They take the longest to do. 

 

 

This little area is for my blue and yellow tree, and it is a slim tree that is 7' tall.   Watch for tomorrow and see how far I get.

 

Before Christmas Decorating

I am going to take you on a step by step tour of how I decorate for Christmas.  I will tell you all the hints of many years of experience.  I hope those of you that follow this blog will ask questions, and send pictures of areas that you would like to have help with.  Here is my e-mail: NSado44959@aol.com, please feel free to ask questions or even send pictures.

Here is the before picture of my bakers rack:

 

This is one of it's normal looks, although I change it often.

 

 

This is with everything taken off except the little lamp to provide light.  I have decided that I want things to be lit up on this rack for a change.  You will see that I have quite a collection of Christmas things.

 

So I will start with each shelf and probably change things as I go.

 

 

A bit more on Christmas

On the front of the new Coastal Living magazine, is a homemade tree.  You know I have been talking about my Feliz Navidad Christmas tree, it is perfect.  I don't know if my husband will build it yet, I just gave him the picture today.  It could be soooo cool.  I went to the Party Store today to see if I could get some ideas.  I bought some cute (long funky) necklaces to use as garland as they are extremely colorful.  I found some all different color plates and napkins on sale for 50% off, great deal.  I also bought some of those things you put your finger in one end and the finger from the other hand in and pull.  I will put a string on them and hang them on the tree.  I can't use anything that humidity and weather will ruin.  So this morning I nixed the Santa Tree for outside.

I think my next trip will be to the dollar store and look.  I need some plastic all different color balls and a couple of strings of colored lights.  I only use white lights on my trees.  One tree is prelit and the other has to have lights put on it.  I really need to find a prelit pencil tree to fit an area where this one was bought for 11 years ago.

So after you have your lights on, and the balls on the inside, you need to decide if you want ribbon.  I do not use ribbon.  If I did, that would go on now as you must start from the top and work your way down.  Use ribbon that is wired on both sides, and can be bought on sale at Michaels, Jo Anne's or Hobby Lobby, and if it's not, use a coupon.  Make a large bow (if you want to), or put your topper on and start each ribbon from the top, tucking it in areas as you go down the tree.  I have an lit angel on each tree.

There are several traditions associated with a Christmas Tree.  If you have one, this is the time to do your tradition.  The pickle is one, a bird and nest is another, butterflies and birds, or what ever you have a tradition of.

As children grow and don't believe anymore, start traditions if you haven't already.

I will do before and after pictures of areas. 

More on decorating tomorrow, as I want mine done by the end of next week. 

Decorating the Tree like a Professional

Have you ever noticed how some trees just sparkle and others look like they have hardly any ornaments on them.  Here is the trick. 

Pick the color theme of your tree.  If you have a tree of all colors, then you can choose a theme.  One of my trees is red and white and silver.  So to decorate this tree I choose red as my dominate color.  Starting on the very inside of the tree, next to the center post, I hang only red ornaments.  They are of medium size, and they are the shiny glass ones, that are inexpensive.  Once you have that whole part covered, stand back and light the tree.  See how shiny it looks.  You can use any color, or combinations of color.  The trick to decorating a tree is to start from the inside and work your way to the outside.  Then use anything you want to make the tree turn into a wonderment of Christmas.

The first time I had a Christmas party moving to Florida, my tree was right in the middle of my room close to the front door.  As one of my friends walked in, she stopped and said"  Oh, Oh, It Looks Like Bloomingdale's".  I have never seen such a beautiful tree.  That was all it took to continue doing trees.

I have collected ornaments every year since I was 18 years old.  I have some of the most beautiful ornaments I think in the World.  As a matter of fact, I have many from different places in the world.

I would like to start a new tree this year, that just has Santa's on it.  I am not sure yet as I am going to put one up for my after Christmas Party, the theme: Feliz Navidad.  I have to start hunting for those things first.  Perhaps, a good idea is to mix it with Santa's.

See just in writing, I have made a decision, a Santa tree, with a little Mexican mixed in.  Perfect!!!!!!!

A Peice on Traditions

Talking Christmas. 

When my children were little, I let them help with a lot of the decorating.  Besides the Charlie Brown tree, we always had a manger scene and a little village to set up under the tree.  There were little plastic elves under the tree around the village. They were constantly re-arranging the village and the elves. Then  of course the advent calendar.  That was our custom.  I know that many of you have your own customs.  It is great for the children to take part in so they can carry on traditions.  I love the elf on the shelf from Hallmark idea.  I bought a bigger elf who could bend and sit on lampshade,  could hang from chandeliers, be upside down on the fireplace and always somewhere where you might think he was causing mischief.  We called him Mr. Elf.  This was for my great grandson who was living with us.  Then when he moved, of course Mr. Elf went to Michigan.  We have had several Mr. Elf's as children visit for the holidays.  I saw a beautiful one at Dillards yesterday.  I am thinking I should just go get it.  Remember, if you love it, buy it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Another tradition was that I bought each child a collectable ornament to keep for when they had their own tree.  To this day I do it and for my grandchildren and great grandchildren.  They are always special ornaments. I try and buy them after Christmas each year and save them for the next year.

An old tradition was to go as a family and pick out a fresh green tree.  Now everyone has artificial trees, or almost everyone.  Here, fresh ones just don't last long.  Lucky are those of you who live in the north and can get beautiful trees.  The smell of them is Christmas.

Tomorrow, how to decorate an artificial tree to make it outstanding!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A bit on Holiday Decorating

Let's start now with some Holiday decorating.

I was shopping today, and low and behold, Christmas decorations are on sale.  So are Thanksgiving  decorations.  That is one holiday, that I really never decorate for.  Maybe a few gourds in a wooden pumpkin and  a cornucopia.   I usually start my Christmas decorating before Thanksgiving as I have so many decorations.  And what did I do, yesterday at the church bazaar, I bought a few glass Christmas pieces.

The first thing to do, or I should say that I do, and so do people I have worked with over the years, is to put away all my accessories in each room that I am going to use Christmas decorations in.

I must make room for everything, so I have to get all the decorations out of the cupboards first then I wash everything and put it in where the Christmas things are stored.  I really have to be careful as I really don't have that much room.  I happen to have an air conditioned room in my attic, so it is easy to store the Christmas things up there.  Fortunately for me, I have grandsons that can get the things down as we can't do it any more.  This is also one way to get everything cleaned and some of your cupboards.  Two jobs done at one time.

I will start with pictures of what my room looks like, then take it apart.  I decorate every room, so I do have a lot.  Again, I will tell you that I by an awful lot after Christmas, so it is like having new things right away this year.  I tell myself, I don't need another thing and I by it anyways.  I love Christmas.

Today, Macy's, Dillards, J.C. Penney's and JoAnne's, I got some new ideas for an outside tree.  Now I need to buy a tree.

When my children were little in the 70's and 80's, I made a Charlie Brown tree.  Long before they came out with them.  We cut a barren small tree in the woods, spray painted it white and put on little white lights on it.  We used a board for the base and hammered nails in from the bottom.  We painted that  and put an old sheet under it.  All the ornaments that the kids made in school, shrinkey dinks, beaded ornaments that the kids made to keep them busy until Christmas.  When they got married, I gave each one on them their box of their own home made ornaments.  Many people we knew then all made them after they saw ours.

It was our start of the Charlie Brown Tree!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bit on Visual and Comfort

I read an advertisement that said" Transfer what you love to where you live."

It seems funny to me that I have talked and talked about the visual aspects of design  That is what I love about magazines. THEY ARE VISUAL!!!!

I have found many things on the Internet that are not as visual as they are in a magazine as you are looking at a single item and not in a setting.  The item by itself may not look as good as it does in the setting.

There seem to be a lot of new companies popping up all over such as: Modshop, Kwinter, Mr. Brown, and Crystorama to name a few.  these are ads you see in trade magazines, and some of the more designer magazines.  Designers have access to  many products that the average person just can't find.  I will say though that the Internet is a good source.

Design is usually the result of re-imagining what already exists.  Depending on your age, you will have memories of things n the past that were comforting, beautiful in your minds eye, scary and so on.  It you think back and daydream a bit, you will be surprised what you can remember.  I remember loving wall paper as a child. All flowery and stripes.  At one point in time, I wallpapered about everything.  Then I went back to paint.  Now I am coming back to wallpaper.  It is interesting.  I remember the great big down filled beds at my grandmothers house and how warm and comfortable they were.  I have a down one on my bed here in Florida.  Yes, sometimes we do need it, but not to often.

So today, mix thoughts of past with what is new and try and find the best choices for you.
Transfer what you love to where you live!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

More Ideas for Small Spaces

Another great piece of versatile furniture is a movable island for the kitchen.  Besides storage, it adds counter space, or a prep area.

I happened to see in one home I was in, an old library table used or the island.  Towel bars were fitted at one end, a large cutting board sat on one end, and a wine rack was attached at the other end.  Under it were baskets of all sort filled with stuff.  I thought it was really a very clever idea.  With what is available today, you can imagine anything you want and proceed to do it.  You could use any kind of table or even an old sideboard and add a granite top.  That would be great.  The only problem with and old sideboard is that the back is rough.  You could have the back redone with a piece of wood to match.  Many of your catalogs  have ready to buy islands as do many home improvement centers.

Another great thing is a butlers pantry, if you have the room for one. You can use wine coolers, a small refrigerator and sink made to fit into small spaces.  If you do not have the room, fix a small area in your kitchen for a bar area.

Look around and see if you have room somewhere  for this unique idea for an older home.

A Bit on Beds and Storage

As I was writing the 12 Strategies, I mentioned a bunk bed that I saw in a Magazine with unique steps and storage.  Here it is:

 

This combines the steps ( that is usually a ladder) and added drawer space.  It was in Coastal Living Magazine.  Make sure if you read magazines or subscribe to them, that you use a tear file.  If you like it, you may someday need to use it.  Every once in a while, I go through my files and pitch many of the things I have saved.  It is just that particular day seemed like I would like it.  Second time, It was just okay.  I label them as kitchen, bedrooms, and etc.  I use manila files.

 

 

This is a bed from Ballard Designs, and it is a great storage idea while serving the purpose of the bed.

 

I use storage under every bed.  There are containers or bags that are made just for that.  Do yourself a favor and write down everything you store under a bed so you know exactly where to look for an item.

 

If you really start looking, you can find great solutions for every room or storage.

 

More tomorrow, before I get into the Holidays!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

The New Bar Carts

Here are some duel purpose furniture pieces I talked about previously.  Good for the Strategies for Small Places.

Here are the bar carts, which in the past were referred to as tea carts, as promised.  All three (3) of these items are from Ballard Designs,  website was given yesterday.

 

This is a very traditional one but can serve as many uses.

 

 

This is kind of an all purpose cart.  I love that it has casters (wheels) so it can be used anywhere.  The metal adds warmth to any room, plus the reflective qualities of the metal.  I love the round shape, as it is really different from the traditional cart.

 

 

 

This is a little more glamorous , but it sure adds the pizazz to a room.  Talk about reflectiveness, this piece sure has it.  This would make a small place look larger.  I like that  you can hang your glasses right there and it also has casters.  A door hides the things you want out of sight and there is a tray top. An absolutely perfect piece for entertaining on a small level anywhere in your home.

 

All of these pieces double as a sideboard at a dining table to hold the food as it is served to keep the table free from clutter.  It is also easier to pass the food from there.

 

More on furniture tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!



Number 12 and the Last Strategy

This is it! The last day of "Strategies For Small Spaces". Number 12!

Customize every inch!

I read recently in  magazine that a prominent designer, bought every magazine on design and interiors and handed them to her client and said, " mark everything that you like".  What a great idea.  I have referred to that in my blog as my tear file.  But the idea is, if you want to do something great with your small space, buy some magazine's and look through them.  Then look at your space and find the exact right thing for that space.  Tear out what you like.

Two things happened today.  First I went to Kirklands.  If you are not familiar with it, it is a home decorating store, with just lots of accessories, mirrors, lamps and so much else.  The scents in these places overpower me.  I started sneezing.  So I learned, that all cannot live with a lot of scents in one place.  I happen to love light sweet smells, Lily Of The Valley is my favorite, if I can find it.  Now in stores like that, you can purchase items and make sure they fit your style.  Take a picture of the item with your smart phone and keep looking at it.  If you really like it, Buy it.  Concentrate on one area at a time.  Make it look expensive for a small price.

Years ago, I bought some oriental rugs there that to this day fit perfectly with my décor and are very nice for inexpensive rugs.

I seem to be able to find things everywhere.

The second thing that happened, I went to a Holiday House presented by our Symphony.  Each room was decorated for Christmas.  The Christmas areas were gorgeous, but the house lacked character.  Not one painting was seen, except for the family ones.  Nothing hung on the walls of this large house.  It was void of customizing every inch.  There is tasteful decorating and a tendency to overdue.  This was one of the sterile houses I have talked about.

You will know when enough is enough.

Again look to Ballard Designs, www.ballarddesigns.com for great ideas.

Tomorrow, pictures of things that work in small places.  I think I will start a Christmas decorating theme  around the 15th of this month.  Watch for it.

Number 11 in Stategies

This is number 11, Strategies for small spaces:

Trick your eye into seeing more space!

I think that this is very interesting as these are all things we have talked about since I started my blog.

Hang things vertically, such as a painting on top of a painting or even three smaller ones hung one above the other.  I have even used mirrors on the ceiling as it adds a lot of height to a small room.  This is a great trick!  Use shelves and pediments hung on top of each other to draw the eye upwards.  A very glamorous chandelier, or a very shiny one or sparkly one draw the attention as soon as you walk in.  A good note, if you can't expand out, expand up.

Mirrors give the eye a feeling of more space.  Hang draperies higher than the window and use a covering if you'd like to cover the vacant wall space.  It is not necessary to cover the wall space at all.  You can use small rods and just hang panels down the sides of the window.  If you need privacy, you can use blinds of any kind.

Do you have small spaces?  I noticed in my overseas travel, spaces are much smaller than they are here in the United States.  So it depends on what you want to get out of each space.

Number 10 in Strategies

Today we are on our number 10 "Strategies for Small Spaces".

"Manipulate sight lines".

Have you ever actually seen a beautiful skyline?  Chicago, New York,  San Francisco to name a few, are beautiful on a bright sunny day or a dark evening with all the lights and shapes.

So should a room, be like a skyline.  And you have the power to manipulate your own skyline. Think high, medium and low.  Your eye should be able to travel up, down and sideways.  Just like a painting, your eyes need to wander through it , into it and away from it. 

Most of your major pieces are all the same height, sofa, and chairs.  Tables are a little lower, same height or sometimes higher.  When you have put in your major pieces, see what your skyline looks like.  Now add height, using lamps, higher cabinets or floor lamps and pictures.  In previous blogs, I have mentioned ways to lift the eye up.  Add short things, or add pieces on the floor to bring the eye down.  You could use planters, bookracks, baskets, or statuary and plants.

Hang thing above your doorways, such as pediments or a skinny  plaque, iron works piece, stained glass piece, shop around until you find the exact thing to go with your room.  I have found things while on vacation many times that I have lugged back that were the perfect item. 

Again, look to the internet and look at Ballard Designs, as they put whole rooms together.  I can always see something that looks good.

Don't settle for less, you will eventually find the perfect item.  Don't be impatient!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 9 in Strategies

Writing this blog certainly takes  lot of time.  I love getting into these topics, but I sure wish you would ask questions to get involved in the blog.

Number 9 in the 12 Strategies:

Create a Jewel Box!

This is where I would splurge on wonderful things.  An elegant piece, a silk throw, beautiful throw pillows, candles with my favorite scents.  Go for decadent window coverings or opulent top treatments.  Make an "Ohhhhh1" room. 

Have you ever been in a place where everything was Oh! Ah! kind of a place.  I think one of my favorite place like that was the Biltmore House in Ashville, N.C..  If you have never been, try and see it.  It was just a feat of its time.  There are places like that all over the world.  Catherine's Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia is another place.  I could name many, but I think those two were my favorites.

I get inspired by that kind of opulence and come home and dig into an area and try to recreate something I loved.

Try the same thing.  Even if you've never been to any of these places, try and remember the most gorgeous place you've ever been, or seen in a movie or saw a picture of, then go for it!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Number 8 in Strategies

Sorry, I was out of town for the weekend and no Wi Fi.  Good for me, bad for you as there was no  continuation of Small Spaces.

Number 8 in strategies for small spaces.

Create Zones!

If you love to read, knit, crochet, needlepoint or just sit with your I Pad, create a space do exactly what you want to do. Make sure you have a comfortable chair, perhaps a ottoman, good lighting, even a magnifying light for close work if your eyesight is bad.  There are many of the old needlepoint crafts coming back in the scene.  I even read today about hook rugs.  Depending where you live, many of these things are just hobbies for many of us to relieve stress or just to relax.  Even just candlelight and a glass of wine or a soothing cup of tea, a big comfortable chair and an ottoman to put your feet up on, a pair of comfortable P.J.'s and there you have it!  Comfort at the end of a day.  I you are knitting, etc., that also takes your mind off the day or the stress of the time.  THIS IS YOUR COMORT ZONE!  It does not take a lot of space, so really think about it and move things around.

You also need a television area, and again it doesn't take a lot of space.  Using two great recliners or club chairs with ottomans, you can easily have a media area.  Use a table and lamp or a floor lamp with an attached table., as I have seen a few of these lately. If you feel the need for a sofa, get one that you can either have recliner ends or ottomans for your feet.  The ottomans can double as tables if you add a tray to it.

If you are bridge or card or domino player, including chess or backgammon, you can use an ottoman for a few of these.  Your kitchen table will serve for the rest.  Places like IKEA have many pieces of furniture that double or other things.

I saw bunk beds in a magazine the other day, where the top bunk actually had a stairway up the side that was made of drawers.  What a clever idea.  May have been in Coastal Living Magazine.  Love that one, as it has some nifty ideas.

Think of zones you can create!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Small place strategy 7

Number 7 in our 12 strategies for small places.

Lift up, Look Up

In almost every home or condo that I have been in, there is so much space above everything.  It will depend a lot on how high your ceilings are.

Chandeliers are a great way to pull the eyes up and make the room look larger.  Choose a really dazzling one that has a lot of pzazz as one will immediately look up at it.  During the holidays, decorate chandeliers to pull the eye up.  Hand beautiful or large balls from it with a little greenery.

Hang pictures one above the other, use different sizes so they create an art form,  You can hang paintings as high as you want, but NOT to the ceiling.  I suggest at least a foot from and 8' ceiling.  In the newer homes, where ceilings are 10 and 12 feet and in some instances even higher, hang paintings three down, as long as they fit.  Remember some of the ways I told you before on how to hang pictures.  Look back in the blog to find out how.

Lift your window coverings above the window, again depending on how your ceilings are.  You can take a blind or drapery to the ceiling, but make sure you have a valance to cover the wall if it is a small window.  You can also just use side panels and take them up higher.  All of these create an illusion of space.

One of the easiest is hang mirrors on a wall and it doubles the look and size of the room.  Don't be skimpy on the mirrors.  Home Depot and Lowe's have some large mirrors that can be mounted to the walls, and come in various sizes.