Did you ever wish your bedroom was bigger or smaller? Well if you don’t have enough money to change the actual size of the room, then you can use paint to make the bedroom seem bigger or smaller.

Paint is well known as one of the least expensive and easiest ways to change the look of any room, but if you pick your colors carefully you can give the space a new feel as well as a new look. Certain colors can make your bedroom walls feel closer or farther away.

If you have a small bedroom and you want it to feel more spacious, then consider painting the walls a receding color. These are the blue – green – purpleish colors and any combination thereof. Look at a basic color wheel – you’ll see that those colors are all next to each other on one side. You probably want to avoid the darkest of these combinations, however as painting a room in very dark tones can make it look smaller overall.

If you want to make a large bedroom feel more cozy, then paint the walls advancing colors. These are the colors on the other side of the color wheel – the reds, oranges and yellow. Bright warm colors will close in the space and make the room seem cheerful and cozy. Also if you have a large cavernous room with a very high ceiling, consider painting the ceiling a medium or dark color which will make bring the appearance back down to a normal height.

When painting your bedroom, make sure you buy enough paint to do the job! Consider how many coats you will need. A dark color may need several coats. IF you are trying to paint a light color over a dark, you may need to use some primer and also a couple of coats. 1 gallon of paint can do about 400 square feet so keep this in mind. To measure your room, go around the edge of all the walls with a measuring tape and record the total width. Measure the height from floor to ceiling and multiply by total width to get the square footage. Measure all the doors and window opening and subtract this from the total square footage (or not, it’s always a good idea to have a little extra paint then not enough!).

Don’t forget to protect your wood moldings with painters tape, remove all the covers from the electrical outlets and plugs and cover the floor and furniture with drop cloths!

Lee Dobbins is owner and editor of Bedroom Designs And Decorations where you can learn more about bedroom colors and decorating schemes.

Bathroom fixtures perform the functions for which a bathroom is built. Updating your bathroom fittings can turn your plain, outdated bathroom into a room you can be proud of for less expense than replacing the fixtures.

Each fixture should be carefully selected to best meet the needs of the intended users. It should also be located in the bath or toilet room in a location that facilitates its use. Find advise on selecting fixtures, articles on quality and design, and information on companies that manufacture bath fixtures for use in your home.

Bathroom fixtures can underscore the style of your home or serve as a neutral backdrop that can be changed based on the accompanying accessories. Here are some tips.

Bathroom plans should provide bars or table space for towels that is convenient so seated bathers can dry their hands and face before getting out of the tub. Storage should be provided on shelves or other areas for soap, shampoo, and toiletries.

Choosing bathroom fixtures, especially for your home’s main bathroom, can prove to be a challenge, like other household furnishings, can be combined in order to create different styles.

It is a common knowledge that bathroom remodeling will probably provide the best return on your remodeling investment, your bathroom will need less repairs and will give off more decor style than any other room in the house.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com Bathroom fixtures and ideas to showcase your homes.

Acrylic paint comes in a tube, just like oil paint. However, since acrylic paint is water-based meaning it dissolves in water instead of oil-based meaning you need to dissolve it in oil or turpentine, it’s much easier to clean up after. You can soak your brushes and clean your hands in plain tap water, instead of smelly and flammable chemicals.

Another advantage to acrylic paint is that it dries much faster than oil paint usually overnight. If you’re working on a painting that needs to be done on time, that’s important. Acrylic paint was developed as a water-based alternative to traditional oil paints. Acrylic paints can be diluted with water, but become water-resistant when dry. Depending on how much the paint is diluted with water, the finished painting can resemble a watercolor or an oil painting.

Acrylic paint is a fast-drying paint containing pigment suspended in an acrylic polymer resin. Different from oil painting as watercolor is different from oil painting. There are techniques, which are available only to acrylic painters, and there are also restrictions, which are unique to acrylic painting.

Acrylic paints can achieve an oil-paint-like effect, and do so in much less time. Applied to look like oil paints, acrylics are somewhat limited due to the superior color range of oil paints, and the fact that acrylic dry to a shiny, smooth.

Acrylics paints are sometimes used in place of watercolors because acrylics dry closer to the desired color slightly darker, usually, while watercolors dry lighter and often unpredictably, especially for beginning artists.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com Acrylic paints and ideas to showcase your homes.

When you shop for drapery and upholstery fabric you must consider two important criteria: form and function. What do you want it to look like and how will it be used? The right Upholstery fabric may not be the right choice for durability, stain resistance, etc. If you have small children, you might suggest a color that will not show dirt easily.

Buying upholstery fabrics for your new piece of furniture is a not always easy. When shopping for fabrics, you will find an overwhelming array of different patterns, textures, fabric weights, and fiber contents to choose from. You should be aware of its durability, clean ability, and resistance to soil and fading.

Here are a few common used Upholstery fabrics; Linen is best suited for formal living rooms or adult areas. Cotton natural fiber provides good resistance to wear, fading, and pilling. Wool offers good resistance to pilling, fading, wrinkling, and soil. Vinyl is easy-care and less expensive than leather, vinyl’s are ideal for busy family living and dining rooms.

Silk is delicate fabric, and is suitable for adult areas, such as formal living rooms. It must be professionally cleaned if soiled. Acrylic synthetic fiber was developed as imitation wool. It resists wear, wrinkling, soiling, and fading.

Nylon is usually blended with other fibers to make it one of the strongest upholstery fabrics. Polyester is blended with other fibers to add wrinkle resistance, eliminate crushing of napped fabrics, and reduce fading.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.all-slipcovers.com. Upholstery fabric and ideas to showcase your bed and bathroom.

The living room is the setting which will blend the people in your life into the occasions of your home. It is the hardest room to decorate because it has to be versatile, comfortable, and entertaining. Guests, relatives, friends; this room will be the showcase of your home for all of them. This makes the decoration of the living room especially important. The colors and designs you choose will have subtle effects on the psychology of the occupants in the setting, resulting in slight changes to the interactions held there. In a social center such as this, you do not want that influence to be a negative one. A way to help control this is to understand the psychological effects of color on the people in a room.

Color is what surrounds us, it makes up our environment. Everywhere we look there is color, and this affects our minds. Certain colors have positive effects. Yellow is a happy color, while grey is considered dismal. These effects change as the shading changes, and of course other factors can alter them as well. Too much yellow is actually an eye irritant. Color and its effects have been studied by psychologists for many years and they have found many generalities that affect most Americans in a similar manner. However, it is important to note that these ideas are not universal, and you should always follow your own taste when designing a room.

Before you begin you should decide what you want to evoke. Are you looking to make this a quiet peaceful room or a place for wild parties? Would you like the room to feel elated or are you looking for a place of serenity. Once you know what you want, you can simply paint by the numbers, being careful to always pick the shade that evokes the desired effect most in you.

The most popular color in America is blue. This color produces a sense of calm, and is often associated with the ocean. The color blue can make a room look larger, and it stimulates elated emotional responses. Lighter blue is more popular and will make a room seem more open then darker navies.

The next most popular color in America is Green. This is the color of nature, and is almost always associated with growth. Using green is slightly more invigorating then blue, but still produces a sense of mental calm. Green is the easiest color on the eye, and is actually good for eyesight. Avoid sickly greens and use nature as your guide to mix and match colors into a green themed room.

Earth tones give a room a close grounded feeling, and can promote a sense of intimacy. They are rustic natural colors that seam simple and warm. Soft tans and browns are the colors of family, and will give your living room that feeling of home. Besides, they don’t show dirt. Greens can be matched in with browns, to create a feeling of nature and the outdoors in.

Colors to avoid in large doses are reds and yellows. Too much yellow can cause eye irritation and uncomfortable feelings. Red, while highly invigorating, is also a very aggressive color. Use of too much red could easily lead to fighting. To avoid conflict, use reds and yellows only as accessories, and only when they match the room’s main color.

It is almost impossible to get angry in a pink room. In light tones and small doses this color gentles people’s personalities. However if you paint the whole room a wild pink you may find yourself irritated by the brightness. Instead use pink in an understated manner. Throw in pink accessories, or a few pink decorations. If you want to theme a room pink, then choose a light color that will match earth tones. However you should be cautious; the more pink that gets used the more people tend to get lazy and unmotivated.

Make a decision about what kind of setting you want to invoke, and then decide on the colors that will help get you there. Make sure the colors you use will match one another. Maintain balance between different extremes, and refer to yourself often. Only you know if the harmony of the room is helping to bring balance into your home. You are your own best resource.

Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home décor accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at Pebblez.com – Quality Décor in Stone

Psychologists have studied the influence of color on the mind for years. While they have not found any effects that generalize to every society, they have found that people from the same society are affected by colors in similar ways. Using these findings it is possible to tap into the subconscious of people, and use this information when decorating to create a room that will have positive emotional effects. The following are the general effects of color on the perceptions of Americans, and some tips on how to use these colors to influence the minds of the people in your kitchen positively. These colors may affect you differently, and as such it is important to pay attention to your own tastes above any advice.

The kitchen is a friendly place of taste testing, gathering, talking, and enjoying the company of friends and family. The kitchen is a family room. It is also a creative paradise, where you will design elaborate dishes and taste delights.

The color most often associated with food and ingestion is orange. This color tends to illicit hunger, and could be a great color to use strategically in the kitchen. Adobe serving trays with orange hints could wet the appetites of your guests. Orange is also a color that tends to lift peoples emotions. Strategic orange decorative patterns, or a slight orange tint to the walls, may be a positive idea to reinforce elated emotions in the kitchen. Red can also illicit hunger, but is such a hot color it should be used in small amounts. Dinnerware and utensils that are red may be a nice touch, if done in an understated manner

Blue is the opposite of those colors and it actually represses the urge to eat. There is not very much blue food in nature, and so we have developed a natural aversion to eating when we see it. For that reason you may want to try and maximize the orange and minimize the blue.

In the kitchen black is best avoided as a major theme. This color will actually absorb heat making the room even hotter. The exception is if black is used with white. White will balance the dark color as well as reflect heat making the room slightly colder.

Earth tones are great for kitchens. These colors, such as tans and browns, can create a sense of closeness and warmth. The feeling of ease and belongingness will make the kitchen a room that you can feel safe to create in. It will also ease interaction between the different parties that may gather in there occasionally.

By using colors in a planned manner you can control the undercurrents in a room and influence the nature of interactions in a positive way. Try and find out how you react to the colors. Play with different shades and gauge your reactions. A few hints lighter and a color may go from a beautiful hunger inducer to a sickly mess that will actually detract from the cuisine created.

Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home décor accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at Pebblez.com – Beautiful Stone Decor

Psychology of colors – the bedroom

Color can have an astounding effect on perceptions, feelings, and interactions. Different colors evoke different memories and different ideas. In the bedroom, where one is supposed to be most at ease, it is important that you plan out your color scheme so that it creates the maximum comfort for you.

Psychologists have been studying the effects of color on people for many years. While they have made many discoveries about color effects on people in different societies, they have not found any effects that occur across all societies. For instance in China the color red tends to make people feel calm, while in America red tends to make people more aggressive. This means that the effect of color on a persons mind is individual and perceptual, rather then being physiological and inherent. In order to choose the right color for a setting, you will have to get in touch with your inner self, and see which color you harmonize best with. In the bedroom one tries to achieve maximum relaxation. By choosing the colors that you feel most comfortable with, you will find the greatest contentment with your decor.

Think about the following colors. Think about each one separately. Think about their different shades, how you feel about them, what they invoke in you.

Red. Orange. Yellow. Green. Blue. Violet. Purple. White. Black

Once you have gained insight into how you feel about those colors, you can read about the general effects these colors have on people in American society. Don’t be afraid to disagree, your tastes are different from anyone else’s, but do keep in mind that the average American that enters the room will feel these effects to some extent.

The two extreme colors are white and black. Black is an attention grabber, and can create a bedroom with a dark, sultry look. Unfortunately it will also make the room look smaller and seem more restrictive. Overuse of the color black can be dangerous in a room like the bedroom, as it can darken a person’s mood. It may even produce night mares. Meanwhile its polar opposite, white, can be uninspiring. Most rooms start off with white walls, and it is the generic look for many homes. It can have a positive and soothing effect on ones emotions, but it may also lead to a lack of stimulation which can be a terrible thing in a bedroom. Whatever ones perceptions however, white is a good color for warm climates. White reflects light creating cooler temperatures and a breezy feeling.

The earth tones are gentle and will keep a bedroom feeling close and snuggly, as long as you pay attention to the tones you use. These colors include browns, oranges, and yellows. Browns tend to remind Americans of family, and of emotional bonds to each other and the world. Orange is a color that makes people happy, but is also the color associated with food and could lead to midnight snacking. Yellow creates a very positive effect on people psychologically, but only short term. Long term exposure to this color can lead to irritation.

Blues and greens evoke serenity and peace. They are colors associated with nature and the ocean. Using these colors heavily in your bedroom can help to calm the emotions of its inhabitants, and bring restful nights. Blue will also calm cravings for food after you’ve gone to bed, because there is very little blue food in nature, so our minds tend to repress hunger at its site. Pink is the extreme claming color and many will find it impossible to act aggressively when surrounded by it. Purple is a nice color for a bedroom that will make it look more sophisticated.

Red is an exciting color. If you have trouble falling asleep, don’t use red in the bedroom. However, to get a tired relationship going, red may be just the color you want. Red makes Americans aggressive. It speeds up their metabolism and gives them energy. Red is a good color for sheets or blankets, because if it becomes too distracting it can be put away until desired.

Combining these colors yields further effects, which are numerous beyond the scope of this article. Remember that shade and tone is important, and will alter these effects. Most importantly, you should have the final say; it is the colors effect on your own mind that is important, and only you can truly understand your own impressions.

Joey Lewitin is an author, artist, and designer of home décor accessories made from imported stone. Original designs from him and other artisans can be seen at Pebblez.com - The Rustic Stone Home Décor Store

Good bathroom lighting requires a mixture of task and ambient lights. When planning the lighting for your bathroom, be careful not to fall in to the shadow trap. Recessed lighting fixtures are very popular these days and are usually recommended. A dimmer switch for versatility should control bathroom lighting.

There are three general types of bathroom lighting; general lighting provides overall illumination; task lighting provides light for a specific task, like reading, homework, and computer work; and accent lighting puts the spotlight on a piece of art, plants, or other favorite possession.

Place bathroom strip lights to either side of the mirror rather than above to improve visibility for shaving and applying make-up. If using vanity strips with globe bulbs, choose frosted instead of clear to help minimize shadows. Use light sources like fluorescent’s to enhance appearance of skin tones and decor.

Choose fluorescent bulbs for the vanity area for energy savings, long life, and good color. Select a pair of decorative wall sconces to flank the mirror in a powder room. Dim all incandescent and halogen sources to help the eyes adept in the morning from dark to light. Bathroom lighting should be a combination of task lights for specific areas and supplementary lighting for overall background light.

A good designer should be able to create zones, which can be operated independently, creating different moods. Working areas such as the food preparation surface counter-tops and sink should all have high wattage independent task lights to illuminate the area without creating a shadows.

For low-level background lighting, choose under-cabinet strip lights, plus a light over the table on a dimmer switch to create the right ambiance for dining. Now you can use Progress Bathroom Lighting to add elegance and functionality to any bathroom application. When it comes to interior lighting, bathrooms are probably given the least thought of all the rooms in the house.

About The Author:

Roger King is a successful author and publisher of http://www.1st-home-decor.com Bathroom lighting and ideas to showcase your homes.

Colors are important in our lives. They are all around us; in nature, in our homes, and in the clothes we wear. The color blue means different things on different levels. Blue is natural, practical, and symbolic. We choose to wear specific colors to say something about us. The color blue is often associated with the serenity of the sky, with a sad and depressed mood, or with the music of the Blues. Some countries, like Greece, have blue as their national color and have it on their national flag.

What does blue mean to you?

You probably associate the color blue with the blue of the sky and the ocean, and if you do, then you also associate blue with serenity and peace. It’s no wonder! Blue is very much a tranquil color. In fact, it is said that the color blue produces chemicals that calm and soothe the mind and body. For this reason, blue is one of the most popular color choices for bedroom walls, and is often used to paint baby room walls.

Blue is often associated with "feeling blue" or being depressed. But studies show that the color blue inspires productivity in people. People, it is said, work better in blue rooms. And more than that, some fashion experts suggest that wearing blue to a job interview is great because blue makes a statement about loyalty. Blue creates the opposite impression of red, which is a color associated with power and passion. Fashion experts suggests wearing red to a job interview if you want to show power and strength.

Blue is also associated with the music genre, the Blues. In fact, the basic characteristic of the Blues is the "blue note", an irregular music note. The Blues are often sung about lost love and troubles, but in general blue is a positive, calming and serene presence in our lives.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.bluethings.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.

The main trend in bed and bath décor today is making a statement about color. Bold, sophisticated and modern expressions of color are in, while fluorescent and pastel expressions are out. Stripes prevail over fussy patterns. Go crazy with colors, but keep them subtle, never extreme.

Color your bed

You may use color in many ways, but the most trendy way of expressing your style right now is in the abundant use of decorative pillows. Decorative pillows are all the rage in home décor today, and they come in all sorts of shapes, sizes, and styles.

Throw as many as you like over the bed to create an overall effect of a rich and sophisticated color explosion. Choose decorative pillows that are printed with enriched brights; blues and yellows, orange and greens. Decorative pillows make exceptional statements when they are printed with a complex mix of vertical and horizontal stripes. Other excellent choices are decorative pillows that come with buttons, pockets, ribbons and textured fabrics.

The impact of color in your bedroom should reflect the overall design concept of your duvet covers, sheets, coverlets, and rugs.

Color your bath

Color is back for the bath as well. In the bathroom, color is used in similar ways as in the bedroom. Instead of pillows, however, experiment with towels, shower curtains, mats, robes, and slippers. Use sophisticated brights, that are rich in color, but are not garish and not pastel. Something in between. Mix and match: greens and oranges, blues and yellows.

In the bathroom, color statements should reflect luxury and comfort. Select towels, mats, curtains of ultra quality. Luxury is a basic characteristic of bath trends today.

Dylan Miles, journalist, and website builder, lives in Texas. He is the owner and co-editor of http://www.luxurybedbath.info on which you will find a longer, more detailed version of this article.