Decorating Through the Seasons

May 13th, 2010

The home is a living, breathing environment, that grows and changes with the actions of the lives lived within its walls. Such a space will often reflect the world outside, simply through the needs and possessions of the people who pass through it. This effect can be enhanced, by taking up seasonal décor, and using a variety of decorating tricks to create spaces which strive to become a reflection of the living season around them.

One of the easiest ways to evoke the feeling of a season in your home is through the purchase of specific home décor items, which are a reflection of the feeling you are trying to evoke. Pieces such as decorative plates, coasters, wall hangings, and even art work can all be printed with images that reflect the season, and they are all small enough that they can be switched into and out of an environment as the month’s cycle around.

Another way to easily change the look of the space is through couch and pillow cushions, or through a variety of throw rugs and carpets. Items such as these allow you to control not only the look, but also the feel of the space, putting a variety of textures at your disposal. In the summer go for lighter, airier fabrics, while in the winter you should strive for thick, warm, fluffy pieces.

Books and magazines are another way to evoke the season. There are a variety of seasonal periodicals having to do with holiday crafts, decorative endeavors, or seasonal events. These can be strewn across the space in various locations, or collected in a magazine rack for easy reference. Coffee tables can also be decorated with a haphazard collection of such publications, as well as books which can reflect the spirit of the natural world.

Color is another important factor for evoking seasons. Lighter tones tend to indicate warmer, outdoors oriented months, while deeper, richer hues are better for the winter. Lighter tones will have a cooler feel while the opposite will be true of more dramatic color schemes.

One of the easiest ways to reflect a season is through the holidays that occur within those time frames. Our minds tend to magnify special events such as holidays, and so a few hours on an important day can act as a mental representative for an entire period of time. This can be reflected in home décor items to help create a sense of the time around you, both before, and slightly after the actual event.

Another way to accomplish this goal is to simply take cues and be aware of the actual nature of the world around you. Then, bring elements from this world, into the home in clever and tasteful ways; a bowl of nuts to evoke the winter, a bowl of fruit to bring in the essence of the summer. Leaves, boughs, and other leafy greens can all be arranged in vases to help complete the effect. The important thing is that you are connecting your home to something larger and more profound than simply the static environment within your four walls.

Seasonal decorating is simply finding a way to allow your home to shift with the natural flow of season upon season. This can be accomplished through the use of both holiday decorating, and natural accessories, which will help to connect the space to the flow of the natural world beyond its walls.

This article was written on behalf of PebbleZ.com’s rustic home décor products and accessories, which are all crafted from the finest, natural, mountain born stone materials. The article was written by Joey Pebble.

Office Decorating Ideas

October 14th, 2008

Is your office boring?  Then why not jazz it up!  These office decorating ideas can put some pizzaz back into the workplace.

The first thing you need to consider is how far you can go.  Is it a home office?  Great!  You can decorate to your hearts content.  But if you are looking to decorate a corporate office, you’ll probably need to check on the rules about that sort of thing at your company.

Either way, plants are a sure win for decorating an office.  They add softness and live to the place, plus having them around “cleans” the air so they are good for you.

Just like in any other room, one of the top office decorating ideas is to paint the room.  This might not work so good in your cube, but in your home office it can do wonders.  Pick a soothing muted tone for a professional appeal.

If you live in a cubicle, you can try tacking posters onto the cube walls. Choose a poster of a tropical island and you can feel like you are on vacation – at least when you get a chance to glance up from the computer!

At a home office, you have more liberty.  Try decorating with paintings, or photography and choose furniture that is comfortable but professional as well.  If you will be seeing clients in your office, don’t go for anything that is too drastic as this can be off-putting.

There are plenty of office decorating ideas that can give you a soothing office that exudes productivity.  Be sure to have plenty of lighting, an ergonomic desk chair and plenty of desk space so you can et lots of work done when you aren’t admiring your new décor!

If you are looking to redecorate for the new season, a new pair of colourful curtains could be a good way to lighten up your home. Visit Very.co.uk today and find your favourite set of garden furniture for those late summer dinners.

Find excellent quality double and single beds at bedstar.co.uk. Why not check out the divan base selection for great storage opportunities?