- Treat yourself with fragrant soaps.
- Trim candle wicks for an even burn.
- Position a robe, slippers, fresh linens and towel in a guest room and don't forget a nice book.
- Plastic containers are really a no-no on the table.
- Do not drink wine from paper cups.
- Furniture with storage is a plus.
- Color adds character.
- Relish family antiques. Not everyone is lucky enough to have them.
- Keep a journal next to your bed.
- Pewter does not need to be polished.
- Contrast is king.
- It's all about balance.
- Cluster frames and mirrors together.
- Paint a chalkboard wall.
- Frame your children's artwork.
- Antiques tell stories.
- Mother Nature is the original decorator, sticks and stones and interesting bones!
- Ottomans with a tray double as a coffee table.
- Fresh flowers are always in style.
- Use a cutting board as a cheese and fruit tray.
- Large pillows on the floor create additional seating.
- Mix old with new on the table.
- IF YOU LOVE IT, IT ALWAYS WORKS!!
- Own a signature handbag.
- Displaying items in 3's is best as it represents the union of Mind, Body and Spirit.
- Old is New Again.
- Black is Back.
- If in doubt, Paint It.
- Mirrors make a room look larger.
- Details - Do make a Difference.
- Wood adds warmth.
- Layer different textures of similar colors.
- Chandeliers are never out of fashion
- Cluttered environments make cluttered minds.
- Leopard print is a seasonless basic.
- Create visual flow.
- White bathrooms communicate cleanliness.
- There are over 200 shades of White.
- A stylish mailbox increases curb appeal.
- Cashmere is seasonless.
- Own one drama piece.
- China and Crystal are for everyday use, leave them out and show them off.
- Pillows are to the room what shoes are to the outfit.
- If you are storing it, you may not need it. Out of Sight, Out of Mind.
- Live in your home, it's not a museum.
- High thread count sheets are well worth it.
- Must have: A Beautiful Bud Vase
- Must have: A Delicate Sugar and Creamer Set.
- Must have: Great Steak Knives.
- Offset a low coffee table with three tall items.
- Position a floor or table lamp next to a comfortable chair.
- Buy a paperweight for a gift, it will always remind them of you.
- Zebra print works in nearly every decorating situation.
- Simple is not always better, go with what you feel.
- The first impression of your home is the front entrance.
- Eclectic collections succeed when elements are commonly linked.
- Team raw materials in sophisticated form.
- Warm colors make the room appear smaller yet cozier.
- Contact Tami Neff Designs for all of your wallpapering needs.
- Cool colors make the room appear larger and crisp.
- Take 24 hours to determine a paint color. View in day, evening and with task lighting in your home.
- Old store fixtures and display cases showcase and store your collections nicely.
- Repurpose old objects by using them in new ways.
- Patiently build and define your homes style. Don't rush it, it will come. (I love this tip!)
- Proportion is all about scale.
- Furniture and objects should be proportional to the room they are in.
- Mosaic is an ancient form of a figurative pattern of stone, glass, or clay.
- A conversation grouping is composed of a sofa, coffee table and two or more chairs.
- Mix and match your dining room chairs.
- For easy storage, install decorative wall hooks.
- Rooms should have a combination of primary and background lighting.
- Hang a chandelier from a pulley to change the height and ambience.
- Scale a lampshade so that it covers the hardware and does not overwhelm the base.
- Matte paint covers flaws in your walls but is harder to clean.
- Eggshell finished paint is the most popular for walls.
- Semi Gloss paint is the easiest to clean and practical for kitchens and baths - but- remember, it does show all the flaws! You can also use Semi Gloss for textured ceilings if you really want that texture to POP!
- Polka dots in any size adds a splash of fun.
- Dry split peas, kidney beans, and black eyed peas look great in glass containers for a splash of color.
- Call Tami Neff Designs, Ltd. for all of your decorating and painting needs!!!
- To compose a wall photo grouping, first practice the arrangement on the floor. Another option is to cut out the same shapes and tape them gently on the wall for the true placement.
- Organize your photos-You’ll feel great.
- Try a dresser as a buffet in the dining room to store table linens. Paint it if needed.
- Increase your decorating options by buying reversible pillows and quilts.
- Frame large pieces or wallpaper or wrapping paper to add artwork to a wall or as a background for a print.
- Try bedding as a quick fix slipcover on a used sofa or a chair. Might get you out of a bind.
- A vintage ladder will double as a towel or blanket display in a bath or bedroom.
- Stacked vintage luggage provides an interesting storage solution when used as an end table.
- Form follows function.
- Back an old frame with cork and make a decorative bulletin board.
- Clothesline and clothes pins against a wall are a great way to display cards and photos.
- Try a vintage post office box or hotel key fixture as a wine rack.
- Move things around, the room will feel fresh and new.
- A thicker branch or broom handle is an inexpensive curtain rod. Remember to bring the outdoors in.
- Fly a flag.
- Feng Shue 101: Create harmony and balance with the 5 elements.
- Avoid mirrors with splits or seams, reflective images should be whole.
- Treat yourself well.
- Support local markets.
- A dog in the house makes it a home.
- If you can’t fix it, paint it!
- If you picnic, pack candelabra.
- CHECK OUT www.tneffdesigns.com AND SIGN UP FOR THE NEWSLETTER.
- Spend money on rooms in which you spend the most time.
- Buy antiques promote recycling.
- Natural light provides positive energy.
- Chandeliers in the powder room are very chic.
- Cluster three hanging lights.
- Try large artwork on the floor leaned against a wall, mirrors work too.
- Place items on the mantle at three heights.
- Identify the room’s focal point and enhance it.
- The art of the cluster: Group like items.
- White and ivory are perfectly paired.
- Dress your bed with at least three decorative pillows.
- Monogram and instant sophistication.
- Old frames can become great mirrors.
- Buy student artwork instead of reproduction prints. Love the textured ones.
- Hang plates on the wall.
- You never feel alone in a home with a chiming clock or a cuckoo clock.
- No wire hangers.
- Dull knives are exactly that.
- Covering it with a cloche’ makes it special.
- Black and white always work.
- Use your fine china. You will feel special.
- Try artwork in the kitchen.
- Paint the inside of your old cabinets a bright cheerful color, you will feel good every time you open them.
- When you’re not wearing your cashmere shawl, let the chair or sofa wear it.
- Cowboy boots are a classic.
- Elegant preserves jars make the perfect hostess gift.
- Tuck a sachet into the linen closet.
- TO be individual and creative is far more important than being hip.
- Cooking is therapy.
- Create a space that is transformable.
- Do not be afraid of color.
- Have less but better furniture.
- Impose order
- Use materials that are easy to clean.
- Use dimmer switches to change the mood of lighting.
- Avoid sharp edges and sharp comments.
- Be emotionally connected to your possessions. If you love them, they will love you back.
- Have less but make it more.
- Allow yourself to be inspired.
- Hand write noted on interesting stationary.
- Set the table beautifully.
- What we put out in the world is what will come back to us.
- Accentuate the assets.
- The smallest gesture can make someone’s day.
- Sameness is a waste.
- Your sunglasses should be as big as your personality.
- A great item should excite at least three of your senses.
- Design is problem solving. Don’t see the obstacles, see the opportunities.
- Always look at things from a second angle.
- Position your desk to face the door.
- If you display a lot of photos, coordinate the frames.
- You spend 1/3 of your life in bed – (Is that good or bad?) Either way, be sure you buy a great mattress.
- Walls are a huge canvas.
- Try buying vintage coats to upholster chair seats and stool, how’s that for unique?
- Breathe. Focus. Believe.
- There are no rules in decorating.
- Birds symbolize prosperity and fertility.
- Lamps with clear bases appear lighter than those with solid bases.
- It is always in style to recycle.
- Red walls increase appetite.
- Pale blue walls promote tranquility.
- A grasshopper in the houses is considered good luck. (Try to find a decorative one and tuck it somewhere.)
- When finished with a meal, position utensils at 4 o’clock on your plate.
- A pair of lights on either side of a mirror adds interest. Could use candle scones.
- Long earrings on a chunky necklace, never both.
- An interesting laptop bag just might land you that job.
- Do not let large scale intimidate you.
- Bring the outdoors indoors for every season.
- When layering necklaces, opt for 3 lengths approximately 1 – 2” in difference.
- Place a bedside carafe in a guest bedroom.
- Who says a night stand must be a “table”.
- Write it down or draw it out when the idea strikes you.
- Collect photo inspirations and file in a book or create a wall poster for your craft room.
- Frame a series of beautiful cards they make great little pictures you can use as “hole fillers”.
- Create a shadow box with your favorite small things: train tickets, maps, or currency.to comminserate an event or period of history.
- Wrap gifts in black and white newspaper or craft paper.
- Always travel with a shawl. It doubles as a blanket, pillow, and a fashion accessory.
- A small lovely bag can be for cosmetics by day and an evening bag by night
- Gentlemen: Treat yourself to a new wallet every two years.
- You can never have too many great smelling candles. (Just don’t burn them all at once or we will be coming over to paint your ceilings!!)
- Mix fabrics: One shiny, one textured, one matte.
- If the seating is uncomfortable, put it in the mother in law suite!! (Just kidding Joan)!!
- An old bucket makes a great trashcan in a bathroom if you can pull off the look.
- To avoid paper cuts, own a stylish letter opener.
- Always carry a small tape measure.
- Buy three cards instead of one. You will be prepared for the next occasion.
- Give names to inanimate objects such as cars and sculptures just for fun.
- If you want to keep it for yourself, buy two.
- Purchase and stash away host/hostess gifts such as tea infusers, wine stops and candles when you find a good deal.
- Use tissue box covers.
- Save jars with lids for buttons, nail, cotton squares, sugar, etc.
- Keep a guest book or blank journal in your guest room.
- Rotate your photos in frames once every year or two.
- A chandelier over a bed works with any ceiling height (as long as you don’t jump on the bed)
- Propose with an antique ring bearer box for extra points.
- If you are over 30, dispose of branded glassware from restaurants and theme parks.
- Adults have security blankets. They are just cashmere or mohair.
- Treat yourself with fragrant, emollient products for the bath.
- For a quick exterior fix, update the look of the house numbers and check out the paint on the front door.
- Hardware such as door knobs, hinges and locks can be an important detail. There are so many choices out there, shop for the unique and it will be noticed.
- Try dried flowers.
- Invest in hand knotted rugs.
- Own more than one cork screw.
- For easy outdoor seating, try a bail of hay, won't last forever but it works.
- Do Not hang your chandelier to high.
- Seasonal display: Fruit, gourds, pine cones, shells, stones, flowers, pumpkins or all colors and shapes.
- Learning is about opening your eyes to see the world around you.
- In the early 19th century, people considered rugs to valuable for the floor and draped them on tabletops or beds instead.
- Decorate small window sills with collected bottles, stones or shells - But - don't forget to dust them.
- Decor in even numbers signifies balance and stability. I like odd number displays myself, does that mean I am unbalanced and unstable? I hope not!!
- You need a signature bag.
- Fill a clear glass bowl, base or bottle with green peas, red, white or brown beans, whatever matches your decor. You could set a candle on top.
- I love a simple rug in the kitchen, something to warm your toes!
- Multiple lit votives guarantee ambiance.
- Try wheels on heavy furniture that you move frequently, but be sure they lock.
- Uncut crystals are a reminder of mother nature and symbolize stability and support.
- Try the library for a good book.
- Dog sculptures are perfectly trained and don't eat too much.
- Create book covers of old fabric or papers and use them to elevate your displays.
- The best way to keep our head above water is a deep soaking tub.
- Great gift for a traveler: Passport holder, travel candle and eye mask.
- You don't NEED knick knacks, you just want them! (me too!)
- Ambient lighting is key.
- Velvet and leather are classic.
- Try minimalism with a touch of rustic for a new spin.
- I love a brocade.
- Lavender pillow inserts induce sleep.
- Insomniacs: Remove the TV from your bedroom.
- Support craftsman, potters, artists, painters and the like.
- Every decorative artifact you own should have a meaning in your life.
- A sterling bell is fun to call for dinner.
- A European butter bell allows butter to sit fresh on a counter top.
- Clothes pins make great chip clips.
- Create a shrine honoring your pet.
- Once in a lifetime events begin with a table set with one of a kind pieces. Very memorable.
- Soft lighting casts romantic shadows.
- Thread your necklace chain through a plastic straw and clasp it to keep it from tangling when traveling.
- Keep one calendar and you won't miss appointments.
- Keep pictures hung at eye level.
- An organized house is a happy house.
- If you pay off your credit cards each month; you won't mind getting your mail everyday!
- You need window treatments to soften your room.
- When painting your trim, white is the most popular color.
- When hanging wallpaper, ALWAYS size the walls first!
- Have a garden tub? Put a large clear glass container filled with bars of unwrapped white soaps in the corner.
- Stencil your favorite phrase on the wall, it will inspire you everyday.
- Buy a label maker, You'll love it...
- Call Tami Neff Designs for all your painting and decorating needs.
(740-319-1546)