If you already have fans in place, check to see whether they are Energy Star qualified. Ceiling fan and light combinations that have earned Energy Star accreditation are about 50 percent more efficient than non-conforming units. The difference lies in improved motors and blade designs. A model with an Energy Star light kit included provides even greater energy savings, and the bulbs don’t need to be changed as often.

“Consumer demand for more energy-efficient products has driven the industry to integrate new lighting, blade and motor technologies that save operating costs. New products integrating the latest technologies are up to 75 percent more efficient than previous models” says Steve Cox, vice president and general manager of Emerson Ceiling Fans.

Paul Vrabel, a principal at ICF International, an energy solutions firm that partners with government clients, explains how to operate fans correctly. “Put them on when you are in the room — during the day and when sleeping — and turn them off when you leave. Ceiling fans cool people, not air,” he says. “Using fans wisely while turning down the [air conditioner] can save a lot of money.”

Ceiling fans do such an efficient job of circulating air, they probably should be everywhere. “Any type of room can benefit,” says Nathan Frampton, president of ceiling fan company Fanimation. “Bedrooms, family rooms, and exterior living spaces are the most common applications, but we are seeing [them used] more in larger bathrooms, walk-in closets, home offices and garages.”

Size matters

Dennis Davenport, vice president of product development for Monte Carlo Fans, concurs. “Consumers are installing ceiling fans throughout their homes,” he says, pointing to the rapid growth of models in all sizes. “For example, fans with blade spans of 54, 60 and 72 inches are increasingly popular for living rooms, while those with 24-inch spans are being installed in hallways and walk-in closets.”

How do you estimate the best size for your needs? “A good rule of thumb is a 36- to 52-inch diameter blade sweep for rooms measuring 200 square feet or less,” Frampton says. “For rooms 200 to 400 square feet, we recommend a diameter of 52 inches or greater; if the space is more than 400 square feet, two or more fans will be needed.”

The number of blades makes some difference in airflow, however, whether to choose a four-, five-, or six-blade version is really a matter of aesthetics, according to Frampton. “You hear a lot about blade pitch, diameter and motor size. These are factors that will affect airflow, but in the end the best way to judge is to stand under the fan you prefer and decided if the airflow feels sufficient,” he says.

It’s important not to underestimate. “The most common size sold in the U.S. is a 52-inch diameter. This fan size provides excellent results in rooms up to 150 square feet, but can also be appropriate for smaller rooms since it can be adjusted with multiple speeds and the direction of the blades can be reversed,” says Joe Rey-Barreau, education consultant for the American Lighting Association (ALA) and an associate professor at the University of Kentucky’s School of Interior Design. “It’s better to choose a slightly larger fan for a room than to choose a diameter that might prove to be too small to adequately provide air movement.”

Do you need a light kit?
Many fans now come with integrated lighting or offer a coordinating light kit available as an option. These lights do not offer enough illumination on their own, but they are useful in a room that already has some form of ambient lighting. “Ceiling fan lights should be considered as accent and mood lighting,” Davenport says.

Should a ceiling fan blend in or stand out?
The next step to consider is whether you’d like it to serve as a focal point or be more understated. “Is the room contemporary, traditional, tropical or transitional? Ceiling fans can serve as a design feature,” says Frampton.

“The primary trend in ceiling fan design has been for styles that create aesthetic statements as bold as a chandelier,” says Rey-Barreau. “This follows the overall trend in residential design for more varied and more sophisticated concepts. Today a consumer can find a ceiling fan that matches any interior design.”

Fans help in winter, too
In the summer, ceiling fans offer a comfortable alternative and accompaniment to air conditioning, but in the winter employing the reversible blade option provides a means of circulating the hotter air that rises to the ceiling. This helps save on heating bills when the weather gets cold.

For more information about how to utilize ceiling fans for year-round comfort in a fashionable style, contact an ALA member showroom. Go to www.AmericanLightingAssoc.com or call (800) BRIGHTIDEAS for a list of stores in your neighborhood.

Courtesy of ARAcontent

Design really is in the details, and those details don’t have to cost you hundreds of dollars. With these low-cost ideas that utilize the items you already own and love—along with a few others picked up at garage sales and thrift stores—you can create a home that really lets your personality come through!

Let the Sunshine In

Turn a mirror into a light source. Place a large mirror where it can reflect natural sunlight into a room to give it a warm daytime glow. And with a heavy piece, there’s no need to hang it—simply propping it against a wall is just as effective and less stuffy.

Mix ‘n’ Match

Add personality to a solid-colored sofa with lots of throw pillows (make your own with remnant fabric from design shops) and drape a lovely blanket on the bottom couch cushions for added effect. Go wild and mix patterns, as long as the colors coordinate.

Flower Power

You don’t need a big bouquet in a crystal vase to create an interesting floral display. Using a few sculptural flowers—like these ranunculus—in simple milk bottles or mason jars is just as pretty. They’ll look gorgeous in any space that catches the light.

Step Right Up

Create a permanent runner without carpeting. This stairway design can be made by painting the steps white, then marking off stripes with masking tape and painting them in your choice of colors. A coat of varnish will keep your work from getting too scuffed.

Judge a Book by its Cover

Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves are a prominent feature, so treat your books like works of art. Instead of organizing by subject, why not group them by color? This design twist becomes a natural focal point of the room, adding color without being overwhelming.

Make It Work

Bedrooms always feel more serene when the bed faces the door, but sometimes an awkwardly shaped wall gets in the way. Building a wall-towall headboard out of wainscoting is an inexpensive way to solve that problem and create a simple, elegant space.

Art Exhibit

Create a stairwell gallery with a variety of frames (mix several styles by picking them up cheap at garage sales). Vary the size, shape and mat colors for best effect in showcasing memorabilia, photos, paintings and other special family memories.

source: womansday.com

Here’s How:

1. When the cold weather arrives, have a collection of cozy, fluffy throws to place on your furniture for snuggling. Remove them or replace with soft cotton or silk throws for warmer months.
2. Remove the toasty down-filled duvet from your bed in the spring and substitute a light cotton matalasse bed cover or a simple cotton blanket.
3. Floral arrangements of pine and holiday colors can be changed for light, colorful ones for the spring and summer. Put away dark brass or pottery containers and bring out clear glass or crystal vases.
4. Change dark-patterned decorative pillows by covering them with fresh, floral prints or plaids for warmer weather. Either change out the pillows with a second set or alternate the decorative covers.
5. If you have a collection of plates on display, put classic holiday designs away for the winter and replace with pretty floral china from grandma.
6. Have your draperies made so they are reversible allowing you to easily turn them from lively to neutral with the seasonal changes.
7. Be sure to put garden magazines and flower books out on the coffee table in the spring and summer. That will help bring the outside in and add color to your interior.

Tips:

1. Keep spring and summer colors and accessories light, both in feel and color.
2. Changing with the seasons gives you an opportunity to get out some long-lost pieces and make them the center of attention for a while.
3. The change of decor can come all at one time, like spring house cleaning, or over a period of several days or weeks. You’ll be surprised what a difference just a small change can make.
4. If winter seems especially long, forget the calendar and get your spring things out even if there’s snow on the ground. You may still need the warm blankets, but the look can be light and uplifting.

Add Soft Colors, Fresh Flowers, and Delicate Fabrics for Spring

A new spring season invites changes to your home with fresh spring decorating. Spring calls for delicate colors and soft fabrics. Read what well-known designers recommend to freshen up your home for Spring.

When asked about inexpensive changes to freshen up a bedroom or living room for Spring, we got lots of great suggestions. Which ones will work for your home?

• Mary Baltz says to use color and paint on walls, furniture, or trim. She likes a neutral ground but introduces aqua blues and spring greens. With outdoor colors coming inside, how about bring in a piece of outdoor furniture, too? It will bring in a new interesting texture.

• Lyn Peterson loves color and pattern. Take a clue from fashion catalogues and use the colors and patterns in your home. Avoid “pasty pales or deep dark drenched colors” and choose a mid tone. Use organic color to cheer up an uninteresting neutral space. Think of “Mother Nature” and go to the colors you see outside.

Use colorful patterned pillows on a “neutral chenille or canvas couch.” Get rid of the fussy beads and fringe. “Let color and pattern do the talking… a crazy hot pink, magenta, marigold and cobalt madras plaid…. a chartreuse, plum and teal floral. These bold ingredients distract the eye.” Revive a boring old sofa.

• Charlotte Moss likes paint, too, because it’s cheap, you can do the job yourself, and it creates a major change. She suggests that you “try a color you’ve never tried before — kiwi green or a pale violet — something you’ve always wanted to try. A couple of gallons of paint is a very inexpensive experiment.”

• Yvette Piaggio says it in 2 words, “Lighten up!” That means colors, fabrics, and flow. Everything should be clean and refreshing, light and tranquil. Choose sheer fabrics, linens, and open weave textiles. Move from ceramic to crystal and glass, either contemporary or traditional.

And, “nothing says Spring more than fresh flowers. Make sure to be consistent with creating arrangements. Choose a color scheme, like all white, instead of mixing bouquets, use the same type flower in one glass container with a beautiful white satin or grosgrain ribbon wrapped around it.”

• Tricia Foley attacks clutter which is “so distracting and high maintenance!” Simplify. Use sheets, flowers, and rearranging to create a new look with what you have.

• Rachel Ashwell says, “Shabby Chic® is traditional and classic so you really don’t have to revise the look.”

Without spending much money, you can give a fresh spring look to your home. What a lovely thought!

1. Control the light

Bamboo, tortoise and natural-reed blinds have a handmade feel and a warm, organic texture, says L.A. designer Schuyler Samperton. For very bright bedrooms, he says, combine sheer curtains with blackout shades. “The best of both worlds: light and privacy or complete darkness when you need it.”

2. Frame the bed

Put a twist on the traditional headboard with a statement-making screen — the room gets another great piece of furniture without sacrificing any space. Look at new and antique options, particularly ones with interesting all-over patterns or motifs (for more stability, they can be wall-mounted too).

3. Marry your prints

Matchy-matchy is a bore. Mix up textures (a ribbed velvet upholstered settee and a woven basket) and complementary but not exact-match patterns, as seen in the embroidered coverlet, silk pillows and the tone-on-tone graphic rug.

4. Make your bedside beautiful

Add photos, a grouping of books, flowers (a floating single gardenia bloom will stay fragrant for five days), and a lamp with personality. Stow moisturizers, lozenges and other personal stuff in the night-table drawer; keep magazines hidden but handy in a basket beneath.

5. Add some sparkle

A flash of glimmer keeps a room from feeling flat, says Jay Jeffers, a California interior designer. Hang a showstopping mirror as a focal point — one in an unusual shape or of vintage mercury-glass. Display an assortment of colored-glass vases, silver pieces or rock-crystal quartz on a table or mantel. Include votives with the arrangement for more shimmer.

6. Curate a photo collection

Amassing a gallery-worthy grouping is easy, says Alan Tanksley, an N.Y.C. designer. Scout online sources like Associated Press (ap.org) or Winter Works on Paper (winterworksonpaper.com). Stand frames on a table or shelf so you can rearrange on a whim. Feel free to combine photos, paintings, drawings, etc. “A mix tells more of a personal story,” he says.

7. Vamp up your coffee table

Replace clear glass with mirrored glass to instantly make a casual coffee table more sophisticated, recommends N.Y.C. interior designer Celerie Kemble. Or lay a mirror or cut marble on any tabletop to change its look. Says Kemble: “The new surface will freshen the mood of the entire room.”

8. Refine your color palette

New York interior designer Rob Southern likes using neutral colors such as cream or chocolate brown for big-ticket items like upholstery, walls and curtains. Then he suggests incorporating one strong accent color — tomato red, bright yellow or aqua — in pillows, vases or an ottoman. Limiting the accents to one hue makes a room instantly more cohesive. And if you tire of them, these smaller accessories won’t break the bank to swap out.

9. Contain yourself

Display an open tray or basket to drop essentials, says N.Y.C. designer Steven Sclaroff. It will neatly hold keys, sunglasses, iPods and more. If they always land here, they’re less likely to be misplaced. Choose a shallow tray — not too big and no deeper than 3 inches — or you’ll be tempted to fill it with too much stuff.

10. Add a mirror

A reflective surface makes a small entry feel bigger and airier. Choose a long mirror so as you head out the door you can check out more than just your lipstick. (Note: Oval or round mirrors won’t call attention to crooked ceilings or asymmetrical walls.)

11. Light it up

Opt for a lamp with a small footprint, like a candlestick base, so it doesn’t take up too much space on a table. Or skip a table lamp entirely and add drama with a hanging crystal chandelier or a sleek modern one. And paint the ceiling a warm shade (even if it’s white) so it reflects a more flattering light.

12. Maximize storage

A table with a drawer keeps necessities like gloves and dog leashes nearby but out of sight. A trunk tucked underneath will hold shoes and boots and also double as a convenient seat.

13. Go for a strong statement

This is a great area for bold design choices that could overwhelm a larger room. Try a deep or bright paint color (warms like red or orange are kinder to skin tones than green and blue) or a patterned or vertical-striped wallpaper that can compensate for too few art pieces or furniture. And a graphic rug, like the zebra print here, ideally in a cleanable wool for this high-traffic area, will add impact underfoot.

14. Nix the expected

Think furniture, not bath furnishings, says N.Y.C. designer Steven Gambrel, who prefers a boldly framed mirror and a dresser-style vanity to make a more “real room” experience.

15. Bring outside in

Incorporate nature, but on a small scale. A duo of topiaries with tiny leaves won’t overwhelm a room or get in the way.

16. Expand options

Ideally, separate the tub (meant for relaxing) from the shower (for getting clean quick). And clear — not frosted — glass shower walls will make the room feel bigger.

17. Go beyond white

Bisque sinks and subway wall tiles, colored marble for the counters and floor, and rich teak storage make the room feel comfortable and luxurious in a way that a white-and-chrome bathroom never will.

18. Display the basics

Store quantities of oft-used items (soap, cotton swabs, cotton balls) in clear Pyrex canisters. “It’s amazing how pretty multiples of common items can look,” says Gambrel.

19. Choose the perfect sofa

Bigger isn’t better, advises Doug Meyer, designer of furniture Doug & Gene Meyer. A large sofa can easily overwhelm a room, so map out the space it will take up before you buy.

A length of 65″ to 72″ is a good size for a small room, while 81″ to 96″ suits a larger area. The best rule of thumb for height is 30″ to 37″. Decide if legs or a skirt are better for your space (legs are more modern). Finally, a solid color is easier to in corporate in a room than a pattern — and is easily enlivened with print pillows.

20. Pick one bloom

A single color and type of flower gives you more bang for your buck, says Julia-Carr Bayler, owner of the Belvedere home store in Atlanta. An arrangement of peonies, anemones or tulips alone packs a visual punch that a varied-flower bouquet doesn’t. “It’s like Andy Warhol’s multiple silk screens: One thing repeated grabs your attention.” It also makes DIY arranging a piece of cake.

Courtesy of cnn.com

Here are some ideas to transform your room for less than $100:

Lighten Up

The type and placement of lighting can completely change the look of a room and create different moods. Most of us stick with light fixtures that were in our homes when we bought them. Those aren’t always the most attractive or illuminating options.

Overhead lighting – the kind that comes installed in most new homes – can be great if you’re quilting, but might not set the mood for more relaxing moments. Supplement your overhead lighting with lamps strategically positioned around the room. Light cast from the side, rather than from above, will create a cozy, homey feel. Four $25 lamps purchased at a discount store can make your room feel like a million dollars.

Create with Color

Repainting in this season’s hot colors can give a room a contemporary, trendy look – even if you don’t update any of your furniture. Or, opt for more classic colors that will still be in style for years to come. Whatever color you choose, repainting is a powerful way to make a room feel fresh and new.

You don’t have to stop with simple painting. Many home improvement stores offer free classes on decorative painting techniques and the use of color. Total cost of doing a decorative sponge effect in your powder room? About $26 for a gallon of paint, and another $25 for sponges and paint trays.

Make it Better with Murals

Wallpapering an entire room is a big commitment, but you’re still not content with just repainting a room. You want something that’s going to make the décor pop – without busting your budget. Wallpaper murals are a great compromise. You can find images to match virtually any décor – from an underwater scene for a kid’s room to the view from the verandah of a Tuscan Villa for your kitchen.

Home improvement store Lowe’s carries a variety of these easy-to-install wallpaper murals by Environmental Graphics, for less than $100. You can find a style and size to fit in nearly any room. To find a Lowe’s near you visit www.lowes.com.

Accessorize your Bath

Americans tend to spend their at-home hours in the kitchen. But the next-most-used room is the bath. If walking into your bathroom feels like walking into a bad thrift store – nothing matches and toiletries everywhere – it may be time to spend a few dollars and take control.

It’s easy and not costly to replace mismatched accessories such as toothbrush holders, cups and lotion dispensers with ones in the same design. Major retailers and home specialty stores carry a wide array of patterns to appeal to virtually every taste. A full set can easily be bought for less than $100.

If you’re willing to be a “big spender,” you can also pick up shower curtains and window treatments to compliment your new all-matching accessories.

Go Green and Get Moving

Nothing says “home” like green plants. You don’t need a green thumb to green up your living space. Opt for low-maintenance live varieties like a philodendron or pothos. Or, if you just can’t keep plants alive, consider artificial. Many modern artificial plants duplicate the look of life so well only the aphids who try to eat them can tell the difference.

Place tall palms next to chairs and windows to bring the outdoors inside. Smaller plants are marvelous accents for tables, shelves and windowsills. And a hanging basket with cascading leaves will add drama to large entryways.

Finally, don’t think you need to replace your furniture to make it work in your new room décor. Sometimes simply moving it around is enough to create a new effect that will please you and work well in your room.

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Courtesy of ARAcontent