Tag Archives: lighting

How to Decorate Your Home Bar

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If your home has a little home bar you want to it too look official – like a place that is reserved for entertaining. You don’t want it to look like a second guess or a place to throw mail, paper and other clutter. Also, if your bar is well put together you will be more inclined to use it.

Bars come in many different styles, shapes and sizes. Some are free-standing, some are pushed against the wall and others are simply walls with holes that ct like room dividers.

No matter what style your home bar is the real key is to give it a theme. That way you can tell it from one room to the next. Popular themes are Old Wild West, Rustic Prairie, German Beer Pub, Sixties Mod, English Pub, Space Age (think Stanly Kubrick 2001), James Bond Sportsbar, Carribean bar.

Make sure that you have nice BarStools that people can comfortably sit at when they visit your bar. A bar rail is also a nice touch. If you purchase your Bar Stools online make sure you pick up a  barstools.com discount code from a site like  DiscountStorm.com to save some money.

 

 

If you are a collector you can use the bar to display anything – like antique cars, dolls, or sports team memorabilia. One of the biggest touches you can give a bar has to do with kitsch. Decorate it with campy antiques for a unique effect.

You might also want to think about the color of your bar. You can use a bar to mix, match with or balance out with other colors in the room. If you really are into decorating you can make the bar the focal point of a room A bar that is red and black and glittering with mirrors is likely to get everyone’s attention immediately.

You can also create all kinds of dramatic effects around your bars. You can add recessed lighting or Christmas lights. You can also add old fashioned Tiffany lights or novelty lights to give it a special glow. You could also consider adding a disco ball, feathered diode centerpieces and clocks with moving images. Lava lamps also add nice lighting and kitschy effects to bars as well. A dimmer switch on your bar prevents it from glittering too brightly when you would rather not draw a lot of attention to it.

If you have an ugly looking bar you can reface it with bamboo sticks to make it look like a Hawaiian bar. Some people have even inset full aquariums in the body of their bar to make it more interesting.

How to Decorate A Screen Porch

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All too often the screened porch is wasted because it is not set up as a pleasant living space. Instead it is used as a storage space that is crammed with junk.

If used correctly it can be treated like an extension of your living room. It can be a great place to entertain your guests. It can also be a stylish retreat just for you.

Your first step is to clear all clutter from the porch. Keep bikes, coats, gardening stuff and anything else in there somewhere else.

Then you need to look at the floor. Wood flooring is rustic and creates a look of timeless elegance. If real wood, like pine is too expensive then you might want to consider using laminate flooring. It is less expensive than wood and the installation process is simple.

If you want a floor that is easy to upkeep then try ceramic tile flooring on your porch. If the floor seems too cold you can also had a throw rug.

The porch furniture that you choose should depend on the ambiance you want to create. If you want a casual and relaxed look choose contemporary wicker and soft furniture with low side tables. If you plan to have meals out on the screened porch be sure to also include a glass covered or simple wood table. If the porch is small you can always bring in a folding table when needed.

If you want a more exotic effect add printed cushion covers or gaily printed fabrics. You could also add vases of flower, candles and a tinkling fountain.

You can also put a hammock or hanging swing on a porch. These swings are beautiful and come in many colors. They make your porch more attractive to relax in.

The lighting should also be relaxing. Wrought iron light fixtures create a beautiful rustic effect. Stained glass creates a soft diffused and colorful light.

Don’t forget to hang some art on your porch to make it look well decorated. Bronze or copper metal art looks right as do watercolors in summery colors like turquoise or orange.

Front porches are sunny, airy and usually warm. They are perfect for growing plants. If it receives sunlight for two to three hours consider creating a container garden.

Plants like roses, azaleas, paper whites, amaryllis and cyclamens grow well indoors.

You can also grow creeping varieties of plants like wisterias, periwinkle, bougainvillea, morning glory and climbing rose. The fragrance will make your porch an amazing place to be.