Make Over a Room

Change is in the air. It’s all around us. Leaves, light, weather, even time. You can use this as an excuse to create a new bedroom. It’s easy and can cost you little or no money. In fact you can create newness with the stuff you already have. Re-use and re-purpose sheets, napkins, scarves, and other items to generate a Fall/Winter look for your room.

Recently I used an old sheet set to take my room from Spring/summer to Fall/Winter. I used the top sheet in warm vibrant colors of orange/red, turquoise, and brown as a bedspread. The matching pillowcases became pillow shams. The torn bottom sheet was cut into several pieces and used as accent pillow and cushion covers. Table napkins found at a garage sale for a dollar each with similar colors were employed as accent pillow covers as well as tray liners.

Note, it’s very practical in a small room to have a basket or tray on or next to your bed to hold your glasses, remote controls, and various other objects you want to have handy on a regular basis. Adding a decorative piece of fabric takes it from merely functional to an additional design element in the space.

It’s really important to start with a vision or just an idea of what kind of ambiance would have you actually look forward to being in the room. I like a room to feel and look warm in the cooler months. I’m also partial to things that create visual interest like patterns or fringe. Oceana likes spaces that are simple yet rich and has an affinity for texture. Whatever appeals to you, start there, and look around to see if you have a scarf, sheet, or throw that can be draped over a chair or dresser top that will shift the look of your room towards your vision.

Holiday Tips - Hosting

Party season has arrived. Let’s first explore the role of the host. Here are 5 time-tested tips for a fun and pleasurable holiday event: 1. Lighting is everything. This single element can have the most impact on a party. For the evening, go with dim lighting. Use plenty of unscented candles. Let me just say, flameless candles will change your life forever. They are readily available at Dollar stores and hardware stores like Ace Hardware. What they are is tea-light-sized lights that look like flames and run on LED’s. Set them inside a candle holder and you have instant ambiance without trying to find a lighter and no messy candle wax to cleanup later.

2. If you’re having a dinner party, be creative about dressing the table. Unless flowers are fresh and crisp, it’s better not to use them. Instead break the mold by using a scarf as a runner. Fruit can make beautiful table pieces as well.

3. Do a mini-dress rehearsal. Test the music, make sure there are no scratches on the compact discs. How is the temperature in the room? Is there anything missing like a throw or a pillow?

4. Everything should be set with candles lit and music playing 30 minutes before your guests arrive. Inevitably someone will show up early, and you’ll be relaxed and ready to receive them.

5. Your attire is part of the ambiance. Remember comfort is of the essences. Choose something that feels good and makes you feel like a million bucks. Don’t be afraid to be a little overdressed. As the hostess, you are setting the standard as well as contributing to the overall look of the event. Just be careful with accessories and sleeves that may get into food as you are serving. Also be sure to sit down in front of a mirror in any new clothing, so you can see exactly how your outfit will look as you are sitting at the party.