SPOOKY HOME DECORATING TIPS

Spooky Home Decorating TipsTrend experts say that the top Halloween theme this year will be 'industrial chic', which makes use of neutral tones and concrete. But whether you like to jump on the latest bandwagon or stay with your own style, decorating can be a challenge. For most people, the goal is to achieve the right balance between "scary" and "fun". To help you out, we've lined up some tips to level up your Halloween home decorating chops!Put a twist into your everyday items(Source: Pixabay)Life-sized skeletons and cobwebs amp up the creepiness factor, but they are also easy to overdo. Why not think of ways to put a scary twist on common household items? You can buy a few pairs of Halloween-themed utensils to replace your spoons and knives, or even decorate them yourself. As for the dining table, you can put a cheap white cloth and form blood spatter patterns by staining it with red food coloring. You can also check out Beasley and Henley’s previous post on Halloween dining table decor for other creative ideas.In the bedroom, create Halloween-themed lampshades by replacing the usual yellow light bulbs with creepy red ones. You can even do the same in your bathroom by carving out skull-shaped soap bars. The possibilities are endless!Work on a special centerpiece(Source: Pixabay)In the Yuletide season, the centerpiece is the Christmas tree. You can also do the same during Halloween, and have a big lantern as the focal point in your living room. Having a centerpiece can set the spooky mood in your entire house and make other decor stand out more.Add creative accent pieces(Source: Pixabay)The next step is to complement your centerpiece with accent items. But instead of sticking to the usual Halloween pumpkin, try hand-painted eyeballs or Kidspot's severed finger biscuits. These can be put in jars and placed in different parts of the house.Don’t forget your front porch/door(Source: Pixabay)Trick-or-treaters are more likely to visit your house if your front porch has inviting Halloween decorations. You can go for something crazy like witch hats that are suspended using nylon strings to make them "float", or perhaps a simple a spider garland on your gate. If you’re living in a condo, a Halloween-themed doormat can also do the job. Hanging Jason Vorhees’ mask from Halloween, or a print of Dracula's face, bat, or skull on your door is not a bad idea either.A couple of reminders though: Putting up decor can be trickier if you are living in a rented apartment or a co-op. A post by Yoreevo about co-op apartments indicates that these units have similarities with condos. Most co-ops and condos have some form of restriction on modifying your unit. Landlords Tips shares that while policies can vary from building to building, special clauses are usually added to lease contracts regarding painting, decorating, and other similar matters. It is best to check with the landlord, especially if you’ve been residing in the unit for a considerable amount of time just to find out if they will permit any modifications, no matter how minor they seem.Another important thing to consider is reusability. It is best to go for items that you can simply spice up and use next Halloween to save money. Lifestyle writer Sohia Bennett shared some ideas on recycling Halloween decor, which you may apply when preparing your pieces. And even if you don't have extra storage space after the holiday, you can sell or give your items away! Written By Guest Blogger-Marjorie RossiOutreach Executivewww(dot)letsgetwise(dot)com

Going Green at Home *4 Tips to Save Energy & Money*

We all have bills piling in each month. It does not matter who you are — when you have your own place, bills are bills.Whether you live in a smaller Denver apartment or you spend your days in a modern Winter Park luxury unit with an amazing interior design, each month, you’ll pay a ton of bills. Groceries. Rent. Transportation. Utilities. And more.In most cases, you have options. You can pick and choose which providers you use and this could save you a few dollars on individual bills. But utilities are less flexible, and that could be why utilities are one of Americans’ largest annual expenses, with the average household spending almost $5,000 on utilities, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.  That said, you should always seek new options and work hard to save a few bucks where you can. Here are some tips to “go green” and save a few dollars while doing so.Update Your BulbsThis is one of the most common and best energy tips you’ll get. You’ve likely been hearing about the energy saving benefits of LED and CFL bulbs for years. But have you actually tried to make the switch yet? According to Energy Star, if we all just replaced one bulb with a qualified CFL, we’d save enough energy to light up 3 million homes for a year and more than $600 million in annual energy costs.That said, it’s true — CFL light bulbs cost a bit more than regular bulbs, but they use about 75% less of the energy and they’ll even last ten times as long. This is a no brainer.Watch Your WindowsWhen running the heat or air conditioning in your home or apartment, make sure all the windows and doors are closed as tightly as possible. It’s easy to forget that your small bedroom window was cracked open a bit, but when the air starts seeping out, the heater or air conditioner has to work much harder than it needs to. This causes unnecessary cash (and energy) to be spent.You can still have some amazing interior detailing done in your home while saving money on energy costs — nothing has to be sacrificed!  Smart ThermostatsYou might have heard about the innovative Nest Learning Thermostat. This product — basically just a little computer bolted to your wall and connected to your home Internet — will familiarize itself with your schedule and habits to adjust your house’s temperature to keep you comfortable while reducing unnecessary energy use. Simply put, this thermostat will absolutely save energy and money. The Nest device will automatically adjust to your specifications and you can also control it to function on “away” and “eco” modes to ensure that your home doesn’t get too hot or too cold while people are away and while people are at home.New Appliances?EnergyStar offers some amazing appliances that can help you save money on your utility bills. These appliances might cost a bit more upfront, but the long-term savings will make it well worth your initial spend. For example, EnergyStar clothes washers use 50 percent less energy than your standard washer and dryer. That’s hugely important over time.Creating an energy-efficient home utilizing smart interior design ideas can be a great way to reduce costs on your utility bills. The items used to furnish and decorate your home can also provide the finishing touches of energy-efficient design, which is something that we all hope to accomplish.All in all, money saving is important to everyone. Whether you have bad credit and are struggling to purchase a home; or you’re saving money for a down payment while renting an apartment, we all can benefit from saving a few dollars and becoming eco-friendlier in the process! Written By Guest Blogger- Sam Radbil with  https://www.abodo.com/

The Hottest Trends In Home Decor~ Summer 2018

From glamour to natural tones, this time Beasley & Henley presents to you the summer trends for 2018. Summer is the time to give your home a face lift and a leap into creating something beautiful. Last year we saw a lot of metallics, tropical prints and embracing your inner bohemian. This summer we are going to see ceiling that pop, ice-cream pastels, the perfect imperfect effects of Terrazzo and more! Long gone is the need for a space to feel thematic and matchy. You want rooms that have a variety of textures, prints and materials that work together and are cohesive. May the warmth of the summers rays bring a more carefree, eclectic and stylish home to all. Here are a few of our favorite home decor trends of Summer 2018!GEN Z YellowThis summer we say goodbye to millennial pink, there is a new hue in town. Let's take a moment and give a gracious bow to Gen Z Yellow. She's a little more carefree, outgoing and bold. She wants to be noticed in an effortless way. She's multifaceted and not afraid to tailor her shade to match ones personality.  You can achieve her glow with textiles, accessories, lighting or furniture. Gen Z Yellow can make a glowing appearance through a light fixture, flower arrangement, artwork, throw or as simple as bath towels.         TerrazzoTerrazzo may not be for everyone, but for those who just love the look of  mid-century styles, you will be ecstatic by its resurrection. This summer you will see it reworking into different colors and more creative applications. The perfectly imperfect terrazzo consists of materials such as granite, quartz, glass and marble. It's an undoubtedly bold look with a sea of versatility. If your not looking to replace your flooring or counter tops no worries. You can apply this pattern into a kitchen backsplash, wallpaper or home accessory.    Bone InlayBone inlay of one of this summer's hottest trends. It is a decorative technique that consists of inserting small pieces of bone, shell or ivory into a pattern. The variation gives every accessory and piece of furniture it's striking character. It can be the perfect conversational piece providing your home with design and interest. The intricate patterns create striking textural contrasts that we love to see in homes.    Decorative CeilingsCeilings that pop will be all the rage this summer! This are looking up in the world of ceiling designs and we are all in! We love the wow factor in a home and the 5th wall can be the way to achieve that!  Whether painted a bold hue, applied moldings, plaster work,  shiplap or exposed beams ceilings are as hot as a summers day on Miami Beach.   TextureTexture is such a big thing this summer. You will see furniture that has a more natural handmade feel such as rattan and wicker. Textiles with lots of embellishments will be irresistible to the touch.  From textural wall patterns to baskets texture is everything! Woven furniture, lighting and accessories offer a visual interest without being impactful in color. I feel texture makes a home warmer, lived in and welcoming.