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Pennies from Heaven With C.R. Hill |
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Bedrooms The bedroom is one of
my favorite rooms of the house. Mention the word bedroom and my mind conjures
up images of a cozy hide out, a private get a way, in other words a place of
sanctuary. This is the one room of the house that I will decorate first and foremost
because it is the place I go to hide, to relax and unwind, to let my guard
down. It’s where we spend one third of our lives. But, it can be pretty
expensive to decorate if you don’t have a plan and you don’t work your plan. What’s the first thing
I have addressed in all most all my articles about decorating? PAINT! Take a
good look at your walls. If they need painting, do it. Wal-Mart sells paint
for less than $11.00 a gallon. And go for the gusto and paint the room one of
your favorite colors; it’s well worth it. Three years ago my husband and I
painted our bedroom a gorgeous red and we have never regretted it. Next, address the bed.
The bed is usually the focal point of the room unless there is an outstanding
architectural detail that will draw one’s attention. A bed should be made for
comfort and it should express style. There are colors and styles too numerous
to mention at this time, but suffice it to say it’s worth the extra money to
buy high quality sheets and bedding. These items can be bought at a fairly
reasonable price on sale. A good source for quality sheets, quilts, and
comforters is Target. Keep in mind, the higher the thread count for sheets,
the better the quality. If you cannot
afford to or do not want to buy a quilt or comforter, this is the time to
decide if you would like to sew your own. There are loads of easy to follow
patterns for making quilts. Also, this is the time, if you choose to, to
change the headboard/footboard. If this isn’t in the budget, then refinish or
paint your existing footboard/headboard. This will cost less than $20.00. Or
buy a used headboard and footboard and paint it. If your bed sits on a frame
a lone, consider using an old door, fencing, or some other material to make a
headboard. Rather than attach this to your bed frame, attach the headboard to
the wall. And don’t forget to
dress your windows while you’re at it. There are several options for windows
in a wide range of out of pocket expenses. Curtains are usually the easiest
and least expensive form of dressing. A simple panel curtain can be made on
sale for as little as $1.00 a yard for fabric. Thrift stores are also good
for a source of gently used curtains and drapes. Target, Wal-Mart and other
discount stores offer a wide range of options as well. If you do decide to go
with a simple panel curtain, do consider using a decorative curtain rod as a
means to add detail and style. You can also make your own curtain rod with a
wooden rod and finials attached to the ends and finished in a color you
choose. Lastly, consider your
lighting carefully. Although ceiling lights are good for kitchen, dining room
and bathroom spaces, bedrooms cry out for mood lighting. A lamp that casts a soft glow fits this
bill perfectly. However, if you do a lot of reading in bed, make sure to have
task lighting at hand. In conclusion, if your
bedroom has unmatched pieces, then paint most or all the furniture all one
color to bring a sense of cohesion. The furniture style for dressers,
nightstands, bed frame, and so forth do not need to match, but they can cause
a note of discord because of excess in styles. Any project takes one
small step. So take that step and before you know it you’ve made it to the
finish line. So until the next time we meet may you be blessed with Pennies
from Heaven. Cynthia |