Bring your vacation home with tropical decor

Who hasn't thought, while enjoying their tropical holiday, that it would be great to just leave everything behind and stay forever.

Unfortunately, mature responsibilities rarely allow such thoughts to turn into reality. However, that doesn’t stop you from bringing your tropical getaway home and recreating some of that peace and tranquility right in your own home.

In order to obtain that tropical feel in your own home, paint using water-themed colors in shades of aqua, blue and turquoise as well as soft greens which will mimic the natural colors of the sky and ocean. Use contrasting colors such as coral, tans, beige, browns and emerald green to give the illusion of beaches, coral reefs, palm trees and tropical plants.

Accent the room using bamboo or rattan furniture, commonly found in most tropical locals. Choose textiles in natural, tropical colors or off-whites and add some decorative throws or pillows in contrasting colors or with tropical designs, including palm trees, seashells or ocean views.

To finish, adorn the windows with wispy or willowy fabric, allowing them to drift in the breeze on warmer days when the windows can be opened (or… if you want to create the illusion… simply place a small oscillating fan somewhere near the windows which will occasionally move the curtains as if a breeze just filled the room).

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Cottage Style Decor Defined

Do you love simple, vintage, light, lived-in comfortable styles of decor? If so, you might be a candidate for Cottage Style decorating! The term 'cottage style' can be adapted to a variety of settings, and your home deosn't literally have to look like, or function as, a cottage to incorporate this decor theme into your lifestyle.

The color scheme you select should be light overall, with soft shades of blue, green, pink, rose, aqua, yellow and a healthy dose of white. Use these colors on your walls and don't hesitate to vary the colors from room to room. To add a little bit of drama to the area, use one of your chosen colors in a deeper tone as an accent.

The ideal floor treatment in cottage style decor is wood. If you are into the time-worn look, use wood planking or distressing techniques to make newer wood look old. You can paint the floor, stencil the perimeter, stencil an 'area rug' onto the floor or use area rugs to continue the cottage theme.

Furnishings can be handled a couple of different ways. If you want a little more elegance in your cottage style decor, use newer furniture and accessories, keeping the wood tones and colors light. Small patterned fabrics, mix and match prints, throw pillows, table skirts and the like will maintain the theme yet keep the overall look clean and fresh.

For those who enjoy true vintage, flea markets, antique shops and garage sales can be great sources for cottage style furnishings and accessories. Look for vintage prints, fabrices, accent pieces, and anything that tickles your fancy. Cottage style allows for a mix and match of accessories, whether you are showcasing a collection or all pieces are unique.

Window treatments are simple and informal. Wood shutters, plantation shutters and wood blinds are always a good choice. If you use fabric for valances or side panels, use an organic fabric such as cotton or a simple weave, or perhaps some lace.

As you can see, there is not one right or wrong way to decorate Cottage Style. If you keep your selections to light, natural, vintage (real or reproduction), organic materials and colors, you can create your own unique Cottage Style home.


Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!', a home decorating ideas E-Book that is filled with simple and inexpensive ways to decorate your home.

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Outdoor decor made easy

Are you looking for easy ways to decorate your next outdoor party or enhance you outdoor seating area? Using a few things you already have can update your outdoor spaces on the quick. Here are a few ideas.

(A bunch of flowers from the grocery store—in the same color—placed
in a silver ice bucket add an instant pop to your decor.)


(Place your silverware (or silver colored plasticware!) in an urn or other "indoor"
container and line with napkins in colors that match your decor.)


(Mix indoor or plastic plates with colorful paper napkins and fruit to add a pop of color to a plain plate. An open napkin or dishtowel can be a placemat)


(A towel can be a table cloth and bandannas make great napkins.
Continue the colors in everything else you place on the table (from InStyle magazine)).


(Got fruit? Produce makes a simple, easy and beautiful centerpiece. Add flowers and you are set.)

Happy decorating!

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Pack rats may face home sale challenges

No matter how much storage space we have, we almost always manage to fill it. And packed-full storage can create an issue when trying to sell your home.

However, overstuffed closets and cupboards give a sense that storage space is an issue.

Home resale experts recommend cleaning out the entry closet and put only a few hangers in it, so that the buyer can visualize winter coats. Pack away clothing that you won't need for a few months so that bedroom closets appear spacious.

This also goes for living rooms. You may have squeezed that overstuffed lounger into the family room because it's soooo comfortable, but the buyer won't know that. Move oversized furniture to a storage facility.

The same with kitchen cupboards... make sure everything is in place, neatly, to give the impression that there is space to fit another family's needs.

And, of course, kitchen counters. Store away extra appliances. Put away dish racks, soap dishes and other clutter. Decrease kitchen clutter further by removing magnets from the refrigerator.

In all, creating a sense of space within storage areas can provide a fresh view for those who will need to know where to put their own stuff, should they purchase your home.

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Home Tips by Anne & Larry - How to deal with a faulty electrical outlet

It always happens at the worst possible time, you go to plug something in and BANG (or sometimes pop) the electrical socket makes this terrible noise / lightening combination that is never good.

In order to avoid a repeat performance, something has to be done....

Larry: The most imporant aspect of replacing a faulty electrical outlet is safety. Make sure you turn off the breaker or remove the fuse first. Hopefully, all of your breakers will be properly labelled. I highly recommend using an amp tester to make sure the outlet is off, just in case. Remove the faulty outlet and replace with the new one, following the same wiring set-up that was in the original. This might change slightly if you are upgraded to a GFI (Ground Fault Interrupt) outlet in a kitchen or bathroom.

Ann: Whenever I discover a faulty outlet, my response is always quick and efficient. First, I stare at the outlet, then I let out a little scream, then I run away. Last, and probably the most effective step is to tell Larry about it.

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Home Tips by Anne & Larry offers two sides of the same coin..In the tradition of He Said, She Said, this column offers - with tongues firmly planted in our cheeks - two views of how to deal with common problems around the home, from cleaning tips, to home repair and improvement advice.

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tips for personalizing your decor

A few tips on adding personal touches to your home's decor.

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