WallDecorandHomeAccents.com Blog

Decorating questions and answers: Non Kitchen artwork for kitchen

2008-10-11T05:10:00.001-07:00

Q. I am looking for artwork to hang on my kitchen walls that does not scream "kitchen". I hate prints of food and I don't really like the look of plates hanging on the wall. Do you have any other ideas for kitchen artwork that can stand up to the moisture in the kitchen.

A. As you stated, you must choose art work that can stand up to the moisture level of a typical kitchen. This usually excludes canvas and even framed artwork as steam and grease can permeate canvas and print artwork. So besides plates and inexpensive prints which you can throw away, you can hang architectural art pieces. These are made from resin and are flat on one side allowing you to hang them on the wall. When hung they look like they were carved into the wall like a relief artwork.

This Parisian Urn is a perfect example of a piece of artwork that can stand up to the hazards of the kitchen and still look attractive for many years. It has delicate carvings and intricate details. It has a stylized floral design and is a will work in any classic or contemporary designed home. It is substantially sized at almost 3 feet long by one foot wide and it wills serve as a great focal point in above your kitchen table. You can purchase other architectural pieces of artwork to compliment it.

Decorating Questions and Answers: Choosing Art for a Loft Apartment

2008-10-09T05:00:00.001-07:00

Q. I live in a loft apartment with red brick walls and tall ceilings. I have black leather furniture and glass tables. I have no idea what kind of art to buy that will stand out against the brick walls.

A. The job is easier than you think. You just need to find wall art that you like that contrasts with the red brick wall. You can hang large over sized black and white prints with bold black frames. You can hang every day items that double as art pieces such as an old bicycle or window shutters.

You can also purchase large metal contemporary art pieces that create a huge impact statement. Such an item would stand out against the brick walls without overwhelming the room. The Meridia Three Dimensional Contemporary Metal Wall Art Sculpture for example, would look great in such a situation. It is 27" high by 50" wide and 4" deep and will look great on the wall above your sofa. You can also hang it vertically on a narrow wall to emphasize the height of your apartment. This wall art sculpture is made of chrome and steel and looks great in any modern or contemporary environment.

Decorating questions and Answers: Dressing Up a Bachelor Pad

2008-10-07T05:00:00.001-07:00

Q. I want to fix up my place to impress my girlfriend. I have an old leather sofa, a trunk coffee table, dark cherry TV cabinet, with white walls. It is all old antiques given to me by my grandparents. My floors are wood. Also, my kitchen is all white except for the floors. What can I do to make it more attractive.

A. You need to add some color to your home. Find a piece of wall art that you find interesting, and use it as a color inspiration. Let's take this Marsala Metal Wall Decor piece for example, It has all of the basic qualities of the items in your home and will look great with your furnishings. Yet, it has subtle hints of colors that you can borrow to decorate your home.

You can ground your sofa, chair, and coffee table arrangement with a soft green and/or blue rug. Purchase candles to put on top of your tables in the green, amber, and golden colors from the painting. Add a light cozy blanket to the sofa, and put matching curtains or window toppers on your window.

You can carry these colors to your kitchen by hanging coordinating plates on the wall, and placing a few pieces of pottery around the room.

Decorating Questions and Answers: Medieval But Classic

2008-10-05T05:00:00.001-07:00

Q. I want to update my living room. I have always used Medieval Design, but now want to move closet to something more classic. I still want to keep some design elements that reflect my personal tastes. Can you give me some ideas?

A. My guess is that you probably have a few pieces of decor and art, and possibly even furnishings that are decidedly Gothic. My recommendation is that you go throough these items discarding anything that is old looking, damaged, or poorly made and keep those items that are in the best condition. Display Three to five of these items in your room.

As for furniture, I recommend brown leather that will give you the rich dark feeling that you like while not being too harsh.

Before you choose your accessories and furniture, however, you will want to update your paint colors, painting the walls a classic off white color, with white trim. That will give the room a classic base on which you can add your personal statement pieces.

Speaking of personal statement pieces there are many pieces of art decor you can purchase that have medieval qualities and also classic sensibilities. This Mantua Metal Wall Art set in an intriguing mix of traditional and contemporary wall art design and is also decidedly masculine. It has rich brown tones that compliment wood furnishings and can fit into any earthy decor scheme. Each of the two panels are 28" by 10" and mimic doors. You can display them together as a major focal point or apart as accent pieces.

Decorating Questions and Answers: Headboard Ideas

2008-10-03T05:00:00.001-07:00

Q. I would like to have an extravagant headboard on my bed, but the bedroom is very small. Is there anything I can do to get the look of a nice headboard?

A. The solution to your problem is to find a headboard alternative that will not take up any additional floor space. You can have a piece of plywood cut to the width of your bed. You can then upholster this headboard and hang it on the wall a few inches above where the mattress meets the wall.

Another option is to hang attractive artwork that has an architectural element to it. Wall art plaques, and decorative panels would work well. This Kisaku Metal Wall Plaque is a great example of the type of wall art you can use.

This wall art piece is 19" square and blends with just about any decorating style. It is made up of a series of smaller tiles and exhibits numerous textures in a subtle and attractive wall art piece. Sold at such a bargain price, you can hang one of these over each side of the bed or you can buy six and make a grid above the bed that will mimic a substantial headboard.

Decorating questions and Answers: Decorating Around Paneled Walls

2008-10-01T17:00:00.001-07:00

Q. The apartment I am renting has brown wood paneling. I hate it. How can I decorate around it to make it look better?

A. You have a big job on your hands! My advice to you is to create distractions, especially if you can't at least paint the paneling white. By the way, ask if you can.

If you cannot paint the paneling white or another light color, Then you should purchase a bolt of light colored fabric and make floor to ceiling curtains to hang all the way around the room. Purchase wire curtain hardware similar to what Ikea sells as you can cover a large distance with it. Be extra careful with candles and don't put lamps to close to your fabric.

If you can paint the paneling, then you will only need to distract from the panel pattern on the wall. In this case, hang bold pieces of wall art that will cause you to focus on them and not the wall. This Essen Metal Wall Art for instance, will certainly take the focus off an ugly wall and refocus your gaze onto the artwork. This is a truly mesmerizing piece of artwork in a pinwheel design with a mirror in the center. This wall art piece is hypnotically striking and will fit into any contemporary or eclectic styled home.

Updating the Dining Room on a Budget

2008-09-29T17:00:00.001-07:00

Are you expecting family for Thanksgiving? Do you want to entertain, but fear that your dining room will fail to impress? It doesn't take a fortune to dress up your dining room. Just follow these simple steps.

Slipcover or recover your chairs. If you have cushioned chairs in your dining room, you can purchase inexpensive slipcovers for about $20.00 each. If these chairs have wooden arms, you can alter the slipcover to fit by opening the sides to fit the arms through and sewing the slipcover back together. If your chair is mostly wooden, then remove the seat, add new fabric and reattach the seats.

Clean up or cover your table top. If your table is looking worn and weary, purchase table top refinishing products and clean it up. There are numerous products on the market that will remove scratches and breath new life into an old wooden table. If the table top is beyond repair, use runners and tablecloths instead.

Add a dramatic wall art focal piece to the room. Hang art that will focus everyone's eye to it and away from any areas that might be lacking. One piece that will go a long way in catching the eye of your guests is these set of Boca Candle Wall Sconces. They can be used together as one large focal piece or can be split up to dress up the room and to function an ambiance creating element. In addition to being attractive to the eye, these candle sconces will allow you to turn down the lights and use candlelight instead. Candle light will make any room look great.

Fun Play Room Ideas

2008-09-27T05:23:00.001-07:00

It is great when you can supply a special room for kids to play and explore. It is even more fun when you decorate that room in a fun theme that will inspire the childrens imagination. There are many different themes and ideas you can explore.

You can turn the room into a circus tent by painting wide blue and yellow stripes on the wall and creating a tent design on the ceiling. Paint circus animals on the walls, and if possible, hang a swing or two (at a safe height) from the ceiling.

You can create an all girls or all boys playroom, if your kids are all girls or all boys. Go overboard with buying and painting everything in pink and blue and choose a theme that only your kids will love.

You can create an underwater theme by faux painting the walls in shades of blue and adding sea creatures. Some of the creatures can be painted on and other creatures can be realistic looking half mount replicas.

This 32" Octopus Half Mount Fish Replica is a fun wall decor to use in any rustic den, fishing cabin, or hunting lodge. It is 32" in diameter and is lifelike and easy to clean. It can be used indoors or out and is durable enough to hang by the docks. This wall art peice would be great when hung alongside with other half mount fish replicas.

Unusual Places to Hang Wall Art

2008-09-25T05:17:00.001-07:00

There was a time when the golden rule was to hang wall art at eye height. This rule was interpretable to a degree as people come in all heights, so many decorators struggled as to whose eye level to hang a painting. Still people didn't vary the wall art hanging height by more than six inches.

This rule, like many other old decorating rules is no longer a mandate as many have become creative with hanging art high, low, and in all kinds of unusual places. Some neat and unusual places to hang your wall art are:

At knee level: Otherwise known as the eye level of crawling children, the lower portion of the wall is a great place to hang artwork. Art hung at this level will not only stimulate a child, but certain adult pieces will also look great hung at that height as well.

Around the top of the room: Multiple art pieces can be displayed at ceiling height all the way around the room in place of wallpaper border. A series of plaster medallions for example, are much more intricate and interesting than a wallpaper representing the real thing.

On kitchen cabinet doors: Make kitchens more interesting by attaching simple art sculpture pieces or stained glass art to the cabinet doors. Make sure the art is secure to withstand the constant movement of the doors.

In front of windows: Fifteen years ago, the thought of hanging art in front of a window was almost criminal. Now its called cool and unique. Of course there are certain kinds of art that look best in front of a window such as this Malta Three Dimensional Metal Wall art. While it will look great against almost any color wall, having natural light shine from behind it will it and further enhance the brushed copper brass finish with subtle nuances of color. This metal wall art piece is 36" high and 39" wide, and 3" deep.

Choosing Art When You Don't Know What to Buy

2008-09-23T05:12:00.001-07:00

Don't know what kind of art to buy? Just buy something striking that catches your eye.

Many people fret over finding art that looks good in their homes and that they will also enjoy. Buying wall art isn't really something you should fret about. You just have to buy what you like and that will also coordinate with the other items you love. If this sounds simplistic, it is probably because it is.

A good place to start your search for wall art is online. Look for wall art decor and rate items you like or don't like on a scale of one to 10. Still don't know what you like? Start with simple forget the oil paintings and fine art prints. Look for art with simple metal or iron elements that are more architectural than classic. After finding a few 10's, and making sure they are in your price range, look at the measurements and also the places you are looking to hang your wall art pieces. Do this a few times and you will be able to pick art on impulse.

A good reason to choose metal artwork when buying your first pieces is that they can more easily translate from one room to another, or one style or another. They are more interpretable as fine art regardless of the price point because they have no subject. A good example of such an artpiece is this Batavis Metal Wall Art with mirror. It is a functional mirror and also a large wall art piece that makes a bold statement. This bold painting that creates a fun optical illusion will be at home in many design styles and most especially modern and contemporary.

Make a Screened Porch Feel Like a Room

2008-09-21T05:01:00.001-07:00

A screened room doesn't have to feel like separate unit from the house. With just a few simple steps you can make it feel like room and an integral part of your home.

Don't use lightweight or obvious outdoor furniture for your sun room. You will still need to use furniture that can withstand weather, so a good choice for sun room furniture is dark colored heavy wicker. Preferably the synthetic type that does not fade. Pair this will quality weather proof cushions.

Use lots of fabrics on your sun room. You can purchase outdoor fabrics and hang them as drapes, only use tiebacks to keep as much of the window exposed as possible.

Add a sturdy but attractive rug will make the sunroom feel more like a real room and when carefully chosen will tie together all of the elements of the room. There are many indoor/outdoor rugs that fit this description.

Add wall art pieces that can handle exposure to the elements are important. Without hanging art, the room will look incomplete. Metal wall, and other sculptural art pieces will work nicely. These Asos Metal Wall Planters for example, will serve as wall art, and also help you to blur the line between indoors and outdoor by adding more greenery and flowers.

This set of wall art planters are 21" and 26" each. They are made of forged metal and have nail head trim embellishment with rich bronze coloring.

Combining Opposing Styles

2008-09-19T05:03:00.001-07:00

The key to making an eclectic interior work is to combine opposing decorating styles in a way that is pleasing to the eye. They say opposites attract, but combining decorating features at oppose each other must be done carefully. After all, you wouldn't combine wooden shaker chairs with a chrome and glass table, would you? You would first need to find a way to make the opposite elements coordinate with each other.

In order to make a glass and chrome table go with wooden chairs, you could spray paint the chairs to match the chrome element of the table. If you were going to put an overstuffed table with sleek chairs, you would place pillows in the chair to soften the line. Likewise, if you wanted to combine iron and wood chairs with a glass table, you try to find an iron or wood table base. The trick is to find a common element between the two.

This Arizona Swarovski Wall Mirror is a decorative peice that manages to combine two distinctive styles. The mirror is framed in wood plans finished with pearl champagne paint finish and also with very luxurious swarovski crystals. These two elements work well together because of the high quality finish on the wood planks.

This contemporary styled decorative wall art mirror boasts 752 swarovksi crystals. It is a juxtaposition of luxury and rustic with its pearl finished plank wood framing and embedded with crystals. This wall art mirror measures 40 X 40 inches and and is square but can also be displayed as a diamond shape mirror. It can work well in cottage style decorating as well any eclectic environment.

When Something is Missing

2008-09-13T05:13:00.001-07:00

Have you ever hung a large painting on the wall and felt like something was still missing? Sometimes wall art and other wall hangings, while beautiful and dramatic may need a little something more to look good in your room. It may be that the artwork is not well balanced in the room. It may be that the artwork does not fill the wall where it is displayed. It may be that the artwork does not truly fit the design style of the room. These problems can be easily fixed with the addition of a piece of architectural art.

This Open End Grille, for example, can be used in conjunction with any painting or abstract art piece to help balance the work of art. You can display it above a work of art, below a work of art, or you can buy two and display one of each side. The addition of an wall art piece such as this can easily compliment a piece of art by balancing the position or style of the art piece.

This particular three dimensional wall art piece is designed to mimic abstract leaves which spring from this piece surrounded by a simple border and a rectangular design. It has the look and feel of history and will also go well with modern and contemporary styles.

This will grill measures 49" wide x 4" deep x 21" high and can be placed in a variety of positions and spaces. It comes in many different finishes from Sandstone to ebony, to clay finish, to coffee finish an and more.

Mirrored Walls

2008-09-11T05:11:00.001-07:00

Mirrored walls go in and out of style. One minute they are an excellent way to make a small room look bigger they look great in dining rooms and in small hallways. The next minute they are garish, out of style, and quite dated. The reason that with putting up a wall of mirrors is problematic is probably due to the fact that it is difficult to find mirrors that will cover a large wall area and that are also timeless and beautiful... until now.

These Mississippi Hexagon Swarovski Wall Mirrors are heirloom quality and timeless in design. Each mirror is framed with high quality hardwood with a weathered Aspen Snow-white finish. The border of the mirror is trimmed with approximately 240 genuine Swarovski crystals making it a timeless treasure. These wall art mirrors are truly an investment that will last for many years, even generations. Each hexagon shaped mirror is 20" high X 16" wide and comes with mounting hardware for easy hanging.

Imagine a wall full of these mirrors! Hanging just seven of these mirrors (as shown in the photo) will take up approximately 60" X 40" and add depth to any room while adding timeless elegance and style. Unlike a typical wall of mirrors, if you do get tired of having these mirrors on one wall, or if you move, you can easily take down these mirrors, re-arrange them, and even display them separately. You can also use these beautiful mirrors as trays to enhance your table decor.

Faux Bois Decor

2008-09-09T05:08:00.001-07:00

Wood grain is a very popular finish in home decorating and even in fashion. This wood-grain style is known as faux bois, which is the artistic imitation of wood or wood grains. Faux bois was originally popular from the late 19th century until the 1940's. It was mostly used in the garden where concrete items were transformed to look like wood. You will currently find shoes, sunglasses, furniture, and upholstery and more in a wood grain finish.

Due to the increase in faux bois items in decorating, you can now find many home and wall accessories that mimic the look and feel of wood without the destruction of destroying trees to create art. This Milan Metal Wall Plaque for example, is made of metal but resembles a carved wood art piece. This wall art piece is a dramatic wall decor item sure to spark conversation. It is finished with a rich espresso coloring that evokes the warmth of wood, even though it is made of lightweight metal. It also has sleek chrome bead accents that add an eye-catching contrast. This wall art piece is rich with variety of textures and curves that have an undulating effect, which also ads dimension.

You can display this round wall hanging in any contemporary space to create an instant focal point. It will go well in a cottage or rustic surroundings and among eclectic design as well. It is quite substantial at 36" in diameter, and is sure to make a grand impact. It weights only 9 pounds for easy portability making it easy to move and to install.

Large Statement, Small Price

2008-09-07T05:01:00.001-07:00

Decorating on a grand scale does not mean you need to have a grand budget. If you have one of those homes with super-sized rooms, you can still decorate your walls attractively without spending a fortune. It does not even mean that you have search salvage yards and become an artist yourself. Don't get me wrong. These approaches to finding large statement pieces for your home are great; they are just not always necessary. You just have to know where to look and what to look for.

Wrought iron is a great element to use when decorating a large room. Wrought iron wall decor pieces are generally quite large and also inexpensive. For example, look at this Green Meritage iron Wall hanging. It is highly detailed with its wrought iron scrolls and finials and ads an architectural element to any home whether traditional, eclectic, or modern.

This large wall decor statement piece is 26" in diameter and incredibly affordable, so if you really like it you may want to purchase two, three, or more and use it to turn a boring wall into an incredible focal point. This Iron wall art piece is circular in design and incorporates many geometric components and attractive details. This ornate but abstract design is meant to add beauty to the room without being a huge distraction.

Big Room, Big Decor

2008-09-05T05:01:00.001-07:00

I am very fortunate to live in a large house with very large rooms. My great room and foyer ceiling are twenty feet high and you could fit my last New York Apartment into my current Georgia Master Bedroom. While this sounds heavenly, the size of the rooms in my home presented certain decorating challenges when I moved in. All of my current home decorations and accessories looked like miniatures in my new home. I quickly found out that while my small accessories worked well in my small apartment, that my large home needed large accessories.

The reason you would need large wall decor in a big room versus using multiples of smaller accessories (which would also fill the space) is that too many pieces can make the room quite busy and overwhelming. It is much more peaceful and cohesive if you seek out a smaller number of larger items.

Speaking of large decor items, this Varsavia Metal Wall Leaf Plaque measures a staggering 4 1/2 feet tall and is over 2 feet wide. This massive wall art piece adds a grand-scale focal point to your walls and works well in any decor style with its natural fall motif. It is handcrafted from durable metals into a nature-inspired abstract leaf shape, and boasts lifelike foliage and gracefully scrolling details. The finish is rich, earth-toned shades of metal with both hammered and wrought iron details.

A New Twist on Modern Wall Art

2008-09-03T05:52:00.001-07:00

Modern wall art by definition is simple in form and recognizable from its clean, simple, straight lines. Modern wall art tends to take simple forms and present it as art. Form is much more important than ornate decorations.

By theory, just about any every day item found in the home can double as modern wall art. This is why it is not uncommon to find a bicycle displayed as art in a modern loft when it is not in use. You will also find salvage windows, and metal wall grills used to adorn the walls in modern spaces.

While modern wall art has plenty of charm and beauty, it is also seen as cold and sterile. But that does not have to be the case. Modern wall, just like any other segment of design and decor is constantly evolving. Forms are being combined and materials mixed to create a new genre of modern wall art.

This Leros Three-Dimensional Wall Mirror gives modern wall art a new twist. It is utilitarian in its usefulness as a mirror and also features a sculptural three-dimensional design that could stand alone on its own. It is made of flame-treated copper and burnished brass in a striking circular pattern that frames high-quality reflective glass. This dramatic piece is three feet in diameter, and can serve as the focal point of any room.

A touch of Europe

2008-09-01T05:48:00.001-07:00

If you've ever vacationed in a European Villa, you were surely left longing for the peaceful and elegant surroundings long after you returned home. European villas mix history with with comfort by combining traditional style and materials with comforts of today. A stay in a European Villa really is a vacation from reality.

When you return home, however, you don't have to leave it all behind. You can use the inspiration you found there to update your own home. Add a few European antiques, to your home, and remove a bit of the fussiness and clutter that plagues many homes. Purchase accessories and artwork that brings drama to your rooms without overwhelming the senses.

One such stunning piece of artwork is this this Round Fleur de Lis Grille. This architectural art piece is the perfect way to recreate the passion and elegance of Europe in your own home. At 33" in diameter it is a statement piece that will surely please the eye and breathe new life into a room.

You can purchase this item in sandstone finish or choose from other finishes that will coordinate with your home such as Ebony, Whitestone, Clay, Mission Pewter, Rust finish and others.

Design Inspired by Nature

2008-08-29T05:43:00.001-07:00

A good way to design a home that is soothing and relaxing is to allow nature to inspire your designs. Nature inspired decor does not necessarily mean overly floral with shades of green and blue. There is so much more to nature than flowers and grass and sky. There are also stones and wood of all kinds of shades and textures to inspire you.

Nature inspired colors include taupe, gray, clay, terra cotta, and green, blue, brown and sand. Nature inspired materials and finished include wood, stone, wicker, copper, cotton, linen, and other natural fabrics. Accessories that you can use to bring the outdoors into your room include sisal rugs, grass woven tapestries, shells, fruit arrangements, branches, and more. You can also purchase accessories that are reminiscent of the great outdoors.

This Hamar Iron Round Wall Decor is one accessory item that is reminiscent of the great outdoors without being something that you went outside and actually dragged in. This elaborate wall grille art is crafted from solid metal and is designed for years of worry-free display. The geometric designed wall plaque is made from a combination of natural woods and meta and featured a trio of carefully formed flowers with foliage. It is quite large at 35" in diameter and has a rustic bronze finish and is versatile enough for your bedroom, foyer, sitting room, or any space you’d like to accent with romantic botanical in a contemporary motif.

An Elegant Twist on Hanging Plates

2008-08-27T05:41:00.001-07:00

If you have noticed or have ever hung plates in your dining room or kitchen you know that it is an easy and safe alternative to artwork for the cooking and eating areas of your home. This is because the plates can be taken down, cleaned and hung again and can last for many years in the area of your home that tends to have the harshest effect on wall hangings.

Instead of they typical china plate wall hanging, yous should consider a more updated and attractive version of this decor item. This Four Piece Matilo Metal Wall Decor is a set of four wall hangings that resemble plates. Each piece is forged from hand hammered metal and burnished to create a rustic bronze finish. Each piece also features three dimensional appliques in the form of different types of foliage. Each 12"-diameter piece coordinates well, but will also stand alone on its own.

This four piece set of wall art plaques is so beautiful that it can reach beyond the kitchen and dining room and into the bedroom, sun room, living room or office. It has a certain earthy beauty that will go with any decorating style, but most especially, eclectic, ethnic, and contemporary decorating.

Why Display a Wall Clock in Your Home?

2008-08-19T05:28:00.001-07:00

We wear watches on our wrists. We have the time on our cell phones in our pocket as well as other electronic devises. We usually have a laptop within easy reach with the time on it. Our cable boxes, home DVD players, and kitchen appliances also display the time. So why do we need to display a wall clock in our homes? For me, it is because they are beautiful.

Having a digital clock in easy reach is nice, but to have an analog clock gives a real sensing of the passage of time. Having a clock displayed in the home also ads a sense of history, as the clock is one of the oldest human inventions. Add Roman Numerals to the clock and you add to that historical appeal.

This Etruscan Bronze Square Gear Wall Clock is a dramatic wall art piece and clock with bold Roman Numerals, and aged finish, and is embellished with gears that symbolize the inner workings of a clock. This working clock not only tells the time accurately but it also has great decorative appeal. It is bronze on a black background and in spite of its solid appearance is actually lightweight at 10 lbs. The dimensions are 23X23 inches and 2 inches deep.

The Fleur-de-lis as a Decorating Motif

2008-08-17T05:23:00.001-07:00

The Fleur-de-lis is a symbol often found in home decorating that ads a hint or majesty and formality. The origin of this symbol is hard to pin-point as it predates written history and is believed to be a stylized version of the lily. It's original use was very likely to symbolize French royalty and was used on the shield of Kink Louis VI or VII. Use of the symbol eventually spread to English monarchy and eventually found its way into home decorations.

Fleur-de-lis are often accompanied by a diamond pattern in decorations. This adds to the level of formality of the fleur-de-lis symbol in the design. You can find the fleur-de-lis and diamond patterns in wallpaper patterns, in fabric, and most especially in home accessories.

This Bergama Metal Wall Vase set is a perfect example of these symbols used in home decor. These metal wall vases are adorned with elegant scroll work, fleur-de-lis finials, and a diamond design that is embellished in gold. You can use these planters to display your floral arrangements or to add greenery to your room. At 24" high and 21-1/2" high, these planters can be displayed together or apart. These planters are very durable and can be used inside or outside as it resists rusting.

Bringing Fall Foliage Into the Home

2008-08-15T05:16:00.001-07:00

Fall is right around the corner, and it is time to start thinking about decorating the home for the season. Fall is the least expensive season to decorate for since in many cases you can collect items in your yard and neighborhood to brighten up your home.

Use a combination of wheat stalks and golden maple leaves for a natural fall arrangement. Add different dried flowers to give your arrangement more dimension and texture. Short acorn or berry branches will add a great deal of interest to your fall arrangements.

To make your fall arrangements even more unique, display them in these Asos Metal Wall Planters. These wall planters are a great way to add floral arrangements and greenery to your home without taking up any table or display space. They are forged of lightweight durable metal and have a nail head detail. This set of wall planters is finished with a right bronze patina that is great for fall or year round decorating.

These wall art vases come in a set with one 26" high and one 21" high. They can be displayed together or apart.

Home design basics: Making the Room Art Friendly

2008-08-13T04:00:00.001-07:00

If you are an art lover, and want to display more art in your home, you need to take some steps to make your room art friendly. You want to create a setting that will display your favorite art in its best light. Here are some tips for creating an art friendly room.

Paint your walls in a neutral color. You don’t have to paint your walls art-gallery white to make it art friendly, but you do have to use a color that is not going to overpower the artwork. You will want to use a light color that does not call too much attention to itself, and you will want to completely avoid dark colors. The darker the color of your walls, however, the more likely that you will need to use a and frame to make your artwork stand out.

Add the correct lighting to show off your wall art. Allow natural light into the room, but not so much that it will damage the artwork. Sheer window treatments can allow light into the room while keeping out harmful rays that may damage your art.

Minimize other decorating elements in the room. Your furniture should be neutral and other focal points of the room need to be downplayed. Naturally, colored upholstery and floor colors will allow your artwork to stand out and not detract from it. Whether your artwork is contemporary or classic, these steps will prepare the room for the addition of your dynamic artwork.

Speaking of dynamic artwork, you will want to hang a few pieces that really catch the eye and takes away the breath. This Serpa Three Dimensional Contemporary Metal Wall Art Hanging fits that description. This contemporary abstract wall art is made from steel and is incredibly unique. It is also quite large at 27” X 68” X 7” deep. If you want your home, office, or business to have an art gallery effect, you will want this item to be the centerpiece. If can be at home in a modern contemporary environment and also mix well with more traditional art pieces.