from art-time.com

The holidays are coming, the holidays are coming!  The next three months are chock full of holidays such as Yom Kippur, halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah and Christmas; not to mention all those school holidays that work their way into long weekends.  Holidays often mean out of town guests so now is the time to spruce up that guest room so you can all enjoy your time together.

The perfect guest room provides a comfortable place to sleep, a spot to hang clothing and place personal items and, hopefully, just a bit of privacy.  Here are 5 quick and easy ways to insure that your guests will want to return:

1. Purchase the very best linens you can afford.  High count bed sheets, thick and absorbent towels and plenty of blankets and pillows are a must.  If the guest room bed is actually a pull out sofabed, add a feather topper or some thick foam under that thin mattress.
2. Storage for clothing as well as bath items is important.  If there is a private bath available all your problems are solved.  If your guests will be sharing a bath, present them with a basket to hold their personal items that can be carried to and from the bath.  If a separate closet is not available, purchase an over the door hook and some strong hangers that can hold their hanging items.
3. Thoughtful items such as bottled water by the bed, plenty of reading material that includes paperbacks and current magazines and fresh flowers placed next to the bed send a message to your guests that you are glad they are visiting your home.  Also have extra toothpaste, toothbrushes, soap, shampoo and a hair dryer just in case they forgot something.  They will appreciate not having to ask.
4. A working alarm clock that is easy to see is so important.  While phones, ipods and watches all have alarms, they can be difficult to read in the middle of the night.  Many of your guests may be on a different time zone and have trouble sleeping and/or adjusting to the local time. 
5. Be sure there is plenty of light in the room.  A bedside lamp is a must as is a nightlight to avoid stubbed toes in the middle of the night.  An overhead light that turns on with a switch by the door makes it easy to enter a dark and unfamiliar room. 

Extra tip:  You might also want to stock the refrigerator and pantry with their favorite drinks and snacks

Regardless of whether your guest “room” is a spot on the sofa, a pull out couch, a child’s bedroom or a separate guest suite decorated with beautiful furniture and fabrics, you want your guests to feel welcome in your home.

Introduce some fun sports fabrics into the man cave area of your home.  This might include the family room, game room, den or, if you are lucky, the garage.  And you will be voted Mom of the Year when your son sees new throw pillows, bedding or fun window treatments featuring his favorite team logo in his bedroom.

Many women also enjoy football season.  After all, it is a good excuse to have a party every weekend.  I know I have my favorite team

San Diego Chargers fabric
High Quality Photo

 What’s yours?  Make those weekly gatherings special with table linens depicting the week’s opposing teams or sew a pair of comfy drawstring pants to proudly display your team colors.  And how fun would a set of chair seat covers be all showing different teams?  Use this idea in a game room or a casual dining space where they will set the stage for friendly rivalries.

How do you and your family spend football Sundays?

A romantic look is achieved through the use of textural fabrics, soft colors and heirloom quality furniture and accessories.  Check out these photos and see what you think:

I think any man would be comfortable in this romantic bedroom courtesy of Country Living.  The rough brick wall, distressed iron bed and bench and neutral colored bedding all come together to create an inviting and relaxing space that certainly falls into the romantic category.

Another romantic bedroom, this one courtesy of Pottery Barn, that features dark wood furniture but the romance comes from the wonderful textures of the bedding and the “surprise” of chandeliers as bedside lighting.

This bedroom courtesy of High Gloss Magazine is the ultimate in romance.  Soft pink colors, floral embroidered bedding and that mirror!  What man doesn’t love a mirror by the bed? (naughty!)

While all of these photos show romantic bedrooms, it is possible to bring a touch of romance to other areas of the home as seen in this photo from pinterest.  The selection of fabrics and the addition of wonderful trims such as ruffles, tassles and appliques will add just a hint of romance to a sitting area, dining room or bedroom and the colors should please both men and women.

Isn’t it time to add a little romance to your home?  I can’t help you with the hubby but maybe some of these decorating ideas might reignite a spark, you think?

painting from creativethursday on etsy.com
High Quality Photo

Like most rooms in your home, a nursery needs to be first and foremost, functional.  There are several must-have items you will need:

• For obvious reasons, a crib is a necessity.  Today’s designs range from soft and romantic canopy cribs to sleek and modern metal cribs.  Many models also feature beds that can “grow” with your baby into a toddler bed, a twin bed and, ultimately, a headboard for a double bed.
• A changing table and/or dresser for storage and to make those necessary diaper changes easier on the back and safer for the baby.
• A rocking chair or glider will provide a comfortable and cozy spot for late night feedings and story time when the child gets older.

Once the functional items are in place, the fun begins and it is time to add some personality:

• Artwork will add color to the room and provide creative stimulation for your baby.  Consider a mural, a grouping of colorful paintings, fabric covered letters (a perfect project for all those fabric remnants that accumulate) or three dimensional pieces like your framed christening gown, for example, or Dad’s childhood baseball glove in an acrylic shadowbox.
• Something soft under your feet makes those chilly three a.m. feedings so much more comfortable.  Place a plush shag or flokati rug on top of bare floors or carpeting or, for an unexpected touch, how about a colorful persian rug for an exotic look.
• Bedding for the crib can be purchased ready made or you can make your own.  There are wonderful toiles, circus prints, florals and stripes available in kid-friendly prints that allow you to truly customize your baby’s nursery.  Bedding items include a comforter or quilt, bumper pads, a bed skirt and/or pillows.  Before placing any items in the crib please follow the safety guidelines recommended by the consumer product safety commission to insure the health and safety of your baby.

A beautiful and functional nursery that reflects your personality is a wonderful way to welcome your new baby into your home.

1. Sheets:  Flannel sheets are a great way to keep your toes warm at night.  They are available in all sorts of colors and patterns or you can sew your own.  When choosing flannel look for an ounce count of 5-8 ounces (thread count does not apply to flannel) that will keep you warm and avoid pilling over time.  Use fabric softener and low drying temperatures to keep them soft and longer lasting.
2. Blankets:  There are several choices when it comes to warm blankets.  Choose wool blends, down, flannel and electric blankets for the ultimate in comfort.
3. Comforters:  Your comforter or duvet needs to be decorative and functional at the same time.  Choose a color and/or pattern that makes you feel cozy just by looking at it.  Velvet is a great choice and is available in several colors and price ranges.  A down comforter provides warmth and comfort and comes in different weights for different climates.  Nothing feels better than climbing into bed and pulling a down comforter over your head!
4. Accent throws:  Add a throw or coverlet to the foot of the bed to cover your toes during those lazy afternoon naps when it can get a bit chilly.  A quilt ranks high in the cozy department and will add color and pattern to your room as well.

All that is left to do is grab a good book or a loved one and, as Santa says, “.. settle in for a long winter’s nap.”

www.pbteen.com
High Quality Photo

How exciting!  The time has come for you to move in to your own space even if it is an 8×10 dorm room that will be shared with one, two, maybe even three other girls.  The trick to dorm room decorating is to find storage in every little nook and cranny available and to use items that are multi-purpose.  And while you want the room to be pretty and reflect your personality, it must be functional first.  Here are eight easy ideas that may help when it comes time to create your own space.

1. Most dorms do not allow you to paint the walls.  Besides, how difficult would it be to get all you girls to decide on a color?  To hide those ugly dorm room walls (or at least your section) create a custom message board that is half cork to post notes  and pictures and half white board to write reminders etc.  In place of all those posters that serve no functional purpose, this can hang right above your bed.  Paint the molding a color that coordinates with your bedding and it will act as a headboard.
2. Under bed storage is a must; as are units with drawers and wheels.  Shops like The Container Store have items made specifically for a dorm room and there are cool colors and patterns available. 
3. Space bags make it possible to store out of season clothing and bedding in small spaces, allowing you to be comfortable all year long.
4. If you know your roommates, you can coordinate your bedding for a real pulled together look.  But chances are you will meet her on the first day of check-in.  Result—each girl will have different colors and patterns.  So choose what makes you happy and comfortable.  Buy the best sheets you can afford so insure a good night’s sleep because you are going to need it! 
5. To help ease the pangs of homesickness, be sure to have plenty of pictures of your family and friends around.  To save space, have these pictures transferred on to a lap quilt, pillow case, wall hanging or tote bag.
6. Even something as simple as clothes hangers can make a decorative statement.  For an uncluttered look, choose hangers in one color that, again, coordinates with your bedding.  For a wild and crazy look, buy hangers in all available colors for a rainbow effect.  You can assign a color to each type of clothing i.e. red for jeans, blue for blouses etc. 
7.  Hanging purses on the wall can act as a functional piece of artwork and add color and texture at the same time.
8. Most dorms provide each student with a small desk and chair.  Create a cute slipcover or seat cushion for your chair and turn that utilitarian piece of furniture into something pretty.

Moving into a dorm room is both exciting and scary.  Surrounding yourself with your favorite items and your favorite colors will make it possible to create a little home away from home

New look on a budget

• Duvets, comforters, bedspreads and quilts are the “workhorse” of your bedding ensemble.   They provide the color and pattern and set the tone for the room.  Paint colors and accessories are often chosen from the bed covering.  You can purchase a ready made comforter or duvet or use your Grandmother’s handmade quilt for a country look, for example.  You can fashion your own “custom” duvet out of inexpensive material for the  backing and something as simple as a pretty sheet for the top or you can embellish the opening with buttons or ribbons to add some personality to a standard duvet.  Using your old comforter to stuff your duvet will save you even more $$.
• Bedskirts can be frilly and fluffy,very tailored with a box pleat at the corners or somewhere in between.  If your current bedskirt is a color you plan on using  in your room you can dress it up by adding layers of ribbon or gimp to the hem, sewing buttons to the top of pleats or add contrasting fabric to the inside of the pleat.  This will give you an expensive, custom look for very little money.
• Pillow shams are a decorative addition to your bedding ensemble.  They are available in standard and king sizes but you can be creative and use different sizes regardlessof the size of your bed.  Three standard shams on a king size bed offers a full and luxurious look while using a large king size sham on a twin or full size bed offers a nice streamlined look.  Plain shams can be embellished with embroidery, ribbon trim, coordinating ruffles etc.  Consider personalizing your shams with a monogram for an upscale and graphic look.
• Let’s not forget that a bed is meant for sleeping.  For the ultimate in luxury, purchase the highest thread count sheets you can afford.  You will appreciate it every night when you slip under soft, smooth sheets.

Budget is no object

Wouldn’t we all love to say this!  If budget is no object, having custom bedding made for you is the ultimate luxury.  Choose the highest thread count available to sleep like a king or queen.   Using exquisite fabrics and trims will add to the luxurious feel.  Since budget is not a concern you are free to use trendier colors and objects knowing that you can replace them when they are no longer in vogue.

If you can sew, all of these projects are easy and affordable.  Check out my fellow onlinefabricstore blogger Elizabeth’s posts from march 3, 5, and 7th.  Her sewing tips can help you create your own custom bedding and she is available to answer your questions should you run into any problems.  Sweet dreams!

Because fabric generally does not come in the width needed to cover a bed, duvets are made in three separate pieces in front and three in the back, in order to avoid a middle seam. So, you will be cutting a total of six pieces. The middle piece is always a finished 40 inches wide (41 inches cut), no matter what your bed size. Remember to add an inch when cutting the pieces, because your seam allowances will be ½ inch.

The diagram shows you the finished measurements for a duvet to fit an average queen size comforter. To cover a twin size comforter your side pieces would be 11 ½ inches, finished (12 ½” cut); a full/double size has 19 inch wide finished sides (20” cut) and king size duvet has 31 inch wide finished sides (32” cut). The pieces to make a twin duvet will be 90 inches long; all the other sizes should be 95 inches in length.

Jean and Valori Wells, authors of Oh Sew Easy: Duvet Covers and Curtains suggest using different fabrics for the pieces to create a custom look. They also suggest doing the front and the back in different color schemes; that way you can reverse them for a different look. Their book is available at Amazon and at C & T Publishing http://www.ctpub.com/productdetails.cfm?SKU=10464. I recommend this book if you are ready to really get into making duvets or curtains; it is illustrated with clear photos and diagrams that show you exactly how to make stylish finished duvets and gives much more detailed information than I can offer here. In my next post, I’ll give instructions for estimating the yardage for your basic duvet.