Decorating Mistakes Everyone Makes

(NAPSI)-Rachel Ashwell, designer of Simply Shabby Chic for Target, shares a few common home-decorating pitfalls and suggests easy ways to combat them.

Find the Light: Turn overhead lights off and purchase an array of lighting, such as table lamps, sconces and floor lamps. A trio of light sources, positioned at different heights, will create flattering pools of light. A mix of lighting styles will provide brighter wattage for reading and a softer glow for ambience. If you do choose an overhead light source, install dimmer switches so you have the flexibility to go from romantic to practical.

Pack Rat Tendencies: Once a year, make it a priority to edit the clutter. If you don't use it, lose it. If your heartstrings tug on an item, remind yourself that by donating to charity, someone else can enjoy and benefit. When editing your home, keep beauty, comfort and function as your criteria. Target, long considered the destination for decorating inspiration, has many attractive and affordable storage solutions that work within a budget. Items such as decorative boxes or storage ottomans serve double duty, adding to a room's décor and helping to keep the room organized.

Measure It: A tape measure is your best friend. Before heading to Target for decorative furnishings, measure the space that you are intending to place your purchase in, as well as doorways and halls, which will allow for easy move-in. Proportions are also an important consideration. A huge bed will overwhelm a small room, just as a little table against a vast wall can look lost. When you add measurements to your shopping list, you'll be happier with the end result.

Furniture Flub: One of the most common home-decorating blunders is to place furniture against walls. Leave some space between the wall and pieces of furniture so they can "breathe" and allow the room to look larger. Clustering chairs together creates an intimate setting.

Simply Chic: Less is always so much more. Invest in a few key pieces, but don't buy things just to fill space. It's always safe to purchase large furniture in solid colors. Variations of color, tone and texture are more interesting and soothing than jarring prints and loud, diverse colors. Let complementary hues on walls and neighboring textiles tie everything together. Add unique, personal touches with decorative pillows and colorful artwork.

Look to the Windows: Curtains or decorative window coverings are a beautiful way to define the tone, style and palette of a room. For example, whimsical lace panels create a different effect than silks or plush velvets, which evoke a warm, formal feel. If your windows are nonstandard sizes, place each curtain's tension rod at the same distance from the ceiling to create an illusion of windows at the same height. Details are also important. Rod pocket curtains, blinds, Roman shades and drapes help define a room's feeling. The color of the hardware adds the final touch, helping to bring the room together.

Simply Shabby Chic

Cost: $ to $$

Our New Wood Burning Stove!

Well, it's here and completely installed. Now, a wood burning stove isn't for everyone and especially isn't for every house, but this is perfect for us! A traditional wood burning stove has a very "country" feeling to it. And in our lakeside, country home it fits right in. Not to mention that power outages are common in the winter months here. Last year, our house got down to 40 degrees when the power was out for an entire week. We didn't even need to worry about the food in the refrigerator because the house was colder than the fridge! But we're ready for winter this year. Bring on the ice!

This does bring up the point of home styles. You'll hear designers and decorators talk about the "flow" of the home. You want your decorating style and the aesthetics of your home to all go together. Sometimes, it's best to take cues from your surroundings. When choosing focal points and home upgrades, always consider your home and even potential buyers. People don't necessarily want to walk into a traditional New England cottage and see stained concrete floors and modern furniture. Sticking with the same (and correct) style throughout your home is pleasing to the eye and helps give your house that extra "wow" factor.

On a side note, I'll be using my new stove for cooking things like soups, hot cocoa, and apple cider. Guests and suggested recipes are welcome!

Harvest Time placemats

So, I've been trying to find a way to make this blog new and innovative instead of only regurgitating what I find all over the internet that I like. Although I will be posting my findings, I'm also trying to come up with creative projects on my own. So I had an idea the other day that I haven't tried yet, but I'll share with you now and give you the results later.

I remember doing this Fall project when I was younger where you get leaves that have fallen off the trees, put them under paper and rub a crayon over it to reveal the leaf impression. I'm going to try making placemats with a collage of leaves in festive fall colors. They may work as disposable placemats only. But perhaps we could take them to get laminated if they're pretty enough. This seems to be a super easy project that could be done with the kids too. Maybe we can even personalize them for Thanksgiving.

I'll be getting the supplies for this soon. I'll let you know how they turn out.

MacKenzie-Childs

This is something I absolutely love. Unfortunately, MacKenzie-Childs is ridiculously expensive so I can't get a lot of it. But I have a rule about decorating on a budget: Splurge on one or two items. It's your focal point or something to decorate around. Find something with lots of colors or textures to choose from. Get an ottoman for the living room, or a vase or bowl with intricate detail for the kitchen. It's like the "less is more" idea. You don't want to spend a ton of money on lots of expensive pieces when they can get lost in the room. You want it to stand out and get the attention it deserves.  So don't feel bad if you can't get a million fancy things. And don't feel bad about spending lots of money on one great item either. You'll be amazed at how much that one great item and a fresh coat of paint can do for a room.

Cost: $$$$ but totally worth it.

What's in a Name?

This idea, I have to give credit to my friend Tabitha. When it comes to wooden letters on the wall, take it to a whole new level by adding ribbon to tie it in with the rest of the room, turning the ordinary into extraordinary. When choosing your letters and ribbon, consider the following:

1. The Size of the Letters. Obviously, you want to make sure you have enough wall space, but you also want to buy enough ribbon so you don't run out mid-project.

2. The Ribbon. I'd recommend a minimum of 1 inch width, especially with a pattern or images. You don't want the details getting lost across the room. At the same time, you don't want to ribbon so busy it draws too much attention to one spot.

3. The Amount. I always rely on the KISS method; Keep It Simple, Stupid. Two, maybe three different ribbons per letter. One is just fine as long as it's wide enough. More than that and you might as well paper mache the sucker.

4. The Attachment. This depends on your project. If you think you'll be reusing the letters every time you redecorate, or you want your "Welcome" to reflect the changing of the seasons, consider attaching the ribbon to the letters with something easily removable. In the project shown, a hot glue gun was used.

All the necessary supplies can be found at your local craft store.

Cost: $

($ being budget-friendly, $$$$ being mucho dinero)