Tag Archives: kitchen

How to Decorate Your Rooms in Tartan Plaids for the Holidays

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Tartan plaids are a perennial favorite when it comes to decorating for Christmas and the New Years and they always will be. That is because the decorations can stay in place for quite a few months into the winter and Spring to continue to give the home a cozy look.

One nice touch for Christmas is to add plaid ornaments to your tree. Canadian Tire makes a very nice black, green red and white set of points and balls that are available on line. Many designer ribbon stores also carry gorgeous tartan ribbon that you can use for decorating trees. Wired ribbon looks great tied on a bow and fastened to a Christmas tree branch.

You can also get gorgeous tartan plaid wallpaper that is designed by Vivienne Westwood. They are sold by Cole and Son and come in Red/Brown, Beige, Gray, Red/White and Blue/Brown.

Throw cushions in plaid also perk up the room and make it look more like it is in the spirit of the season. Snoa Rutan is a company that makes throw cushions in red plaid that can be buttoned over your existing pillows and then unbuttoned when you do not want your place to look so Christmas-like anymore.

A single tartan throw rug and a few tartan blankets in your living room can make the place much cozier. Of course nothing says tartan like a big beautiful armchair and footstool in the center of the room. Ralph Lauren makes great footstools. The most popular tartan combos for tartan furniture lately tend to be caramel, chocolate and pea green. The look is very fifties and very Norman Rockwell but the plaids are unobtrusive enough that they are a lovely addition to a room all year long.

You might not have ever thought of dressing up your kitchen in tartan but you can now buy tartan dishtowels, utensils with plastic tartan patterns and serving trays with tartan designs on them. Plaid placemats and tartan napkins also give a nice touch of Scottish Christmas to a holiday table.

Nowadays you can even get candles that have a tartan design on them. For a very Scottish looking spread consider getting a gelatin print of your favorite plaid and have it served as the icing on cake.

How To Decorate Your Place for Selling It Fast!

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First of all it is important to clear all clutter. Get rid of anything you don’t need a take it to the Salvation Army. You should also get rid of all the junk in your yard. Coil up your hoses and make sure any kid’s toys and gardening tools are put away. Do not leave a cluster of bicycles tied up to your porch.

It also helps to get rid of any dead trees or bushes on the property. Spruce up the front door by painting it and adding brand new house numbers and a brand new mailbox. Sunken pavement stones are also a big no-no. Replace them with evenly placed stones.

Studies show that people associate dirty or cluttered looking places with vermin or bugs. Make sure everything is spic and span and clean up every kitchen and table counter. Make sure every surface gleams.

Do not leave baby stuff around as studies have also shown that homes that have kid’s stuff strewn about are less likely to sell. Get rid of baby gates, inflatable pools in the backyard and crayon drawings on the wall.

Get rid of all the ashtrays and hide them. People consider houses that have ashtrays in them to be of lower value, mainly because they smell. The same thing goes for litter boxes and objects associated with pets.

If your home looks dated you can spruce it up by painting the walls contemporary colors. You can also go to the trouble of replacing some fixtures. Even small changes like changing the light switch plates can make a house look homier.

Another trick is to change the faucets and spouts. This makes a home look more glamorous and up-to-date. Add a tall spigot on the sink to make it look Italian and modern.

Flowers and displays like bowls of fruit can also give the home a sense of sophistication. For additional beautiful smells, many real estate agents advise baking cookies in the oven just before a viewing to leave a positive impression on visitors.