4th of July tablescapes for the picnic table from my front yard, perfect for Independence Day! 

I hope you love the photos of our Fourth of July tablescape and seeing the many elements broken down simply.

Red, white, and blue patriotic accessories adorn this (mostly) child-friendly table setting with plastic dishes, including plates, chargers, and stemware.

This table was set up for a dessert-only meal late one night prior to the Fourth of July.  You can see that the only foods on the table are sugar-free fruit popsicles, bowls of red and blue M&Ms, and red and blue cupcakes!

The cupcake platter was our patriotic centerpiece for the 4th of July tablescape.  The middle cupcake has “USA” spelled out in red hot candies.  The poor cupcakes were starting to melt due to the heat, so the USA is sliding off of the side in the photo!

Here is one table setting (minus eating utensils, because we had finger foods only).

Some of the little pieces which went into this 4th of July holiday table setting are easy details that make a big splash:

• Decorative colored glass gems in mini dessert bowls.  These were also sprinkled across the tablecloth to reflect sunlight and add shimmer.

• Curled metallic ribbon, leftover from Christmas.  These small coils of ribbon were sprinkled on the table and also used to accent the napkins (which were gracefully folded by my daughter, London).

• Small square mirrors (available at craft stores) were placed under the popsicle bowls to add depth to the tablescape.

Our tablescape came together quite nicely, as the result of a whole-family team effort.  Happy 4th of July!

Love Independence Day?  Check out our 4th of July party menu with recipes and our 4th of July party house cleaning tips.

Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch.

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We’ve been working on a home DIY project for a few weeks.  We’re painting our old, dated kitchen cabinets a bright new shade of Daisy Dew, courtesy of Dutch Boy Refresh Paint.   

The cabinets were an old, brown “paneling-look” style that I’m sure we all remember from the 70s.  The new cream color is much more appropriate for a cozy country kitchen, and really brightens up the entire room by reflecting light.

Since we’ll be installing new cabinet handles and drawer pulls, there isn’t any hardware shown in the after pictures.

The wallpaper on the walls is also eventually going to be removed and the walls painted instead.  The bottom cabinets will be painted to match as soon as the new laminate countertop is installed (which is cozily residing in the garage right now!).

Here are the before and after photos for our DIY painting project.

Kitchen Cabinets, Before and After

The first section of kitchen cabinets surrounding the oven, before (brown) and after (cream colored – Daisy Dew):

Main section of kitchen cabinets, before (brown) and after (Daisy Dew):

Cabinets at the sink and window area, before:

Cabinets at the sink and window area, after:

Overall, a pretty amazing transformation for our kitchen.  Even my husband and daughter would stand and stare at the kitchen for days after it was completed!  Thanks again to Dutch Boy Paint for supplying us with the Refresh Paint for this home DIY project.

For more before and after projects, visit Making a Happy Home Monday, Metamorphosis Monday and Tackle it Tuesday. The Dutch Boy image and logo are used with permission by Dutch Boy Paint.

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While using feng shui for your home, you will need to make changes associated to the five elements: earth, fire, water, metal and wood.

Since home is the place you like to come back to relieve yourself from the stress, it should be comfortable and relaxing, while allowing positive energy to flow freely.  Try these easy feng shui tips and see if you notice improvements in your home’s appearance.

Feng Shui Tips for Your Home

Front Door.  Better feng shui for your home starts with your front door, which is the first contact that you and others have with your home. The color of the door should be welcoming and have a calm presence. Keeping plants at the entrance attracts positive energy. Avoid having slippers and shoes lying around the door.

Living Room.  Your living room is where you and your family spend most of your time together. To allow positive energy to flow into this room, try these feng shui tips.  You will first need to declutter the room. Keep only required furniture and remove unnecessary books, papers and other items. Try to arrange the furniture in a circular or cozy and comfortable layout, rather than pushing all the furniture to the walls. Avoid using very heavy furniture, such as a marble coffee table.

Kitchen.  The next room is your kitchen, which should be bright and well lit.  White lights are preferable. Ensure that your appliances are in good working condition, throw away appliances which cannot be repaired and have been lying around from a long time.  Also keep it clean and tidy, with no items that belong in other rooms (books, unopened mail, kids’ backpacks, etc.)

Bedroom.  Your bedroom needs special attention since it’s your personal space. The colors used should be pastel, and should look inviting to you. Keep minimum furniture in the bedroom and move the television set to a different room. If you have cupboards or dressers with mirrors, ensure that they are not placed on the opposite or sides of your bed. Your bed should be placed against a wall, which will give a good nights sleep.

Open the windows of your bedroom everyday for a while and get the fresh air circulate in the room.  Read our other tips for decorating a peaceful bedroom.

Bathroom.  The bathroom (whether it’s attached to your bedroom or a common one) should have earthy colors on the walls. It should be kept clean and fragrant, with the help of aroma candles and white towels.  Editor’s Note: Energy that comes from toilet water is thought to be bad energy in feng shui. With that in mind, it is recommended to keep the toilet lid closed whenever not being used.

Kids’ Bedrooms.  Your childrens’ rooms should be tidy and painted with soft colors. Avoid using bunk beds or allowing children to sleep on mattresses on the floor as it restricts the circulation of energy. If you have a kids’ desk in the room, ensure that the child has his back to the wall while studying.

It just takes a few simple adjustments to use these feng shui tips for your home. You can instantly experience an enhanced quality of living and create a more inviting feel to your home.

Living room interior design photo by jinkazamah.

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We’re taking the mystery out of how to put together a tablescape and how to properly set a table with these easy to follow step by step instructions.

How To Properly Set a Table

1.  First, put down the foundations. 

• The tablecloth goes on the table first. 
• Next, if you’re using a table runner, that will go on top of the tablecloth.
• Next, place mats can be put at each setting, or at every other setting if you wish.

2.  Set up the centerpiece. 

• Whether flowers in a vase, a hanging basket from your porch, or another beautiful focal point, make sure the centerpiece is the largest (and tallest) thing on the table.  If it falls short of the height requirement, try adding something underneath.  Even a small container covered with a piece of fabric can act as a makeshift “riser” to lift your centerpiece up.
• Around the centerpiece, scatter flower petals, glitter, confetti, silk leaves, or any other decorative touch.
• If you choose, place candles or tea lights in votives around the centerpiece.

3.  Build up the dishes at each place setting.  You don’t have to use each piece, but this is the order they go in:

• Bottom: charger.
• Next, large plate.
• Then, small plate.
• On top of those 3 items, place the bowl.

4.  Place the flatware.  In a tablescape you have creative license to place items any place they look nice in the design.  If you’d like to stick with a traditional flatware setting, utensils go in this order:

Print Out This Guide
and store it in the front of your cookbook for quick reference.

To the left of the plate:

• Closest to the plate, place the dinner fork (larger fork).
• Furthest from the plate, place the salad fork (smaller fork).

To the right of the plate:

• Closest to the plate, place the knife. The blade faces the plate.
• In the middle, place the large spoon.
• Furthest from the plate, place the small spoon.

5.  The glasses can go directly in front of the plates.  Imagining the plate is a clock, the glass goes at 1 o’clock.

6.  Tea cups or coffee cups with saucers are placed next.  Imagining the plate is a clock, the cup and saucer goes at 2 o’clock.

7.  The bread and butter plate with butter knife are optional.  Imagining the plate is a clock, the bread and butter plate goes at 11 o’clock.  The butter knife is laid across the bread and butter plate.

8.  Place your napkins.  Depending on the look you’re going for, napkins can be placed decoratively in the glasses for a splash of color, arranged in a napkin ring and place in the bowl, or set to the left of the flatware on the left side of the plate.

9.  Lastly, arrange your placecards.  Let your guests know where they will be sitting by using place cards. They can go to the left of the glass, in front of the plate, or in the bowl.

Next, learn some more about creating great tablescapes.  Tablescapes: Budget Table Settings that Look Expensive (part 1) shows you how to buy all the materials at low prices that you’ll need for frugal tablescapes.  How to Design Budget Tablescapes that Look Expensive (part 2) teaches you tricks that home decorating magazine pros use in their tablescapes.

Find more Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family, and Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven.

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The first part of creating gorgeous magazine-quality tablescapes on a budget is to start with frugal supplies that look expensive. 

The second part is knowing how to design and arrange your inexpensive materials for maximum impact, as well as extra tablescaping tips and tricks of the pros.  Follow our step by step instructions below to learn how to design budget tablescapes.

Design Your Tablescape First

1.  Decide on which colors you want to use.  Stick to no more than 2-3 colors.

2.  Pick a centerpiece.  Often, the centerpiece you choose will determine what the rest of the table setting looks like.  Choose a vase of flowers, a potted plant, a tabletop mini water fountain, a ceramic statue, a filled basket, a candle holder, or something similar.

3.  Set out all supplies and make sure you have all the pieces you’ll need.  Although you have many options, only choose the items you want to use:

• Large Plates
• Small Plates Tip of the Pros:
  Use a beveled mirror circle or square under your centerpiece to add visual depth to your tablescape.
• Bowls
• Chargers
• Centerpiece
• Tablecloth
• Table Runner
• Placemats
• Napkins
• Napkin Rings
• Glasses
• Tea cups and saucers
• Flatware (Silverware)
• Candles and candle holders
• Flowers and vase
• Place cards
• etc.

Tips for Magazine-Quality Tablescapes

Your supplies don’t have to cost a  lot to look expensive.  As mentioned in part 1, make sure you opt for “rich” materials with unique touches.  The key to designing lush magazine-quality tablescapes is to layer your materials.  Linens will be layered on top of other linens, dishes will be stacked upon other dishes, etc. Here are some magazine table setting tips that you’ll want to remember:

1.  Use a beveled mirror circle or square under your centerpiece to add visual depth to your tablescape.

2.  Your centerpiece doesn’t have to be only one item; it can be a collection of items.  Use a grouping of candles, a collection of ceramic figures, etc.

3.  If using a floral centerpiece, use one extraordinarily tall stem of flowers along with regular height stems to draw the eye upward and really make a statement.

4.  Tie the centerpiece into the place settings by sprinkling something complementary around the centerpiece.  This could be flower petals, glitter, confetti, silk leaves, or anything else that matches the decor.

5.  Ivy bowls are inexpensive decorative touch and can be used to hold other items.  Line them with cloth napkins, then fill with favors, silverware, flowers, potpourri and more.

6.  Mismatch dishes with unique vintage and antique pieces to add variety and make your setting interesting.

7.  Use different shapes of chargers and plates.  A square charger and round plate look nice together, just as a round charger with a scalloped plate contrast well.

8.  Use 2 place mats at each setting and layer them.  For example, a rectangular red mat placed normally could be accented by a plaid cloth napkin place beneath in a diamond shape.

Don’t miss our tablescape how to next week, How to Properly Set a Table, with step by step instructions on how to put together a tablescape and proper etiquette for arranging formal place settings.  Subscribe to our free RSS feed or email updates now so you don’t miss it! 

Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch, Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven, and Works for Me Wednesday frugal tips at We are That Family.

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If you’re a home decorating fan like me, you no doubt love looking at home and decorating magazines to get new ideas and inspiration.  Browsing through all the gorgeous photos is great, especially looking for beautiful table settings and tablescapes. 

However, you may think that you can’t create the same kinds of looks in your house because you don’t have an enormous decorating budget like the magazines.   Decorating can be luxurious on any budget, as long as you know the right tips and strategies.  Today, we’re going to teach you how to create beautiful tablescapes and table settings on a budget.

Start with Inexpensive Supplies that Look Expensive

The key to pulling off fabulous tablescapes without a lot of money is to use inexpensive supplies that look expensive.  What looks rich?  Pull out your favorite decorating magazine, such as Martha Stewart Living or Better Homes and Gardens, and cut out several photos of tablescapes that you like.  What do you notice about the table setting?  Do they use china, or antique tea cups, or gold-rimmed plates?  The elements you are drawn to will be the things you want to keep an eye out for when shopping for your “rich looking” supplies.

There are many ways to find your luxurious looking tablescape items on a dime.  Here are some frugal methods you can use:

1.  Plan ahead and buy on clearance.  A good storage and labeling system and a closet to store tablescaping supplies in will save you huge amounts of money.  Make purchases of holiday and seasonal table setting items once they go on clearance.  Pack carefully into storage containers and label so that you’ll be able to find them when you need them for the next year.

2.  Shop at discount retailers instead of home decorating stores.  Don’t get me wrong, I love IKEA as much as the next homemaker, but in reality it’s much cheaper to get great home decor elsewhere.  Try craft stores, such as Michaels and Jo-Ann Fabrics, and mass retailers such as Target and Walmart.  Their great selections of home decor items and table setting materials are much more affordable and will allow you to get a wide variety on a small budget.

3.  Buy dishes in pieces instead of boxed sets.  As a mom, I’m into tablescapes which use unbreakable Corelle dishes, because it means they’ll last longer around my children!  A great benefit of shopping at Walmart is that they offer dishes (including Corelle) in both boxed sets and individual dishes.

So if you only want to buy enough dishes for 2 place settings for a romantic date night tablescape, or just to try something different, you can purchase just the plates, bowls, etc. that you need.  This can amount to huge savings over buying an entire set, especially when you may not want certain pieces.

4.  Buy dishes, centerpieces and table linens at thrift stores or garage sales.  Always be on the lookout for great pieces you can incorporate into your tablescapes at garage sales, flea markets, and thrift stores. 

You’ll frequently be able to pick up whole or partial dish sets at rock bottom prices, including wedding china received as gifts that the couple never used.  You can often find ceramics, knick knacks, vases and more at thrift stores and garage sales that will work into a perfect centerpiece for your table setting.

5.  Opt for dark table linens, prints, and vinyl table cloths to minimize staining.  Stains can ruin the investment in nice linens, so opt for darker colors when possible or small prints which can camouflage any food or drink spots.  There are also nice looking vinyl tablecloths available now with flocked cloth backings.  They’re durable and wipe clean while still looking nice (perfect if you have children prone to spills).

6.  Use flowers from your garden as centerpieces instead of buying bouquets.  Fresh cut flowers from your garden are a free alternative to buying bouquets of cut flowers from a florist or floral department.  If you don’t have a flower garden, send your children out to pick some choke cherry sprays from the yard, dandelions, or other wild flowers that you can dress up.

7.  Invest in silk flowers for centerpieces that can be used over and over.  Some silk flowers are incredibly lifelike but will not wilt or die like their living counterparts.  Invest in flowers of different sizes, colors and varieties that you’ll be able to mix and match to get the most for your money.  Remember that silk flowers should be stored in covered containers when not in use, and can usually be washed in the dishwasher to freshen up and remove dust.

8.  Shop on eBay for used or deeply-discounted new tablescape supplies. eBay is a frugal decorator’s heaven for finding the luxurious bits and pieces you need to set your table at bargain prices. 

In the next part of Tablescapes: Budget Table Settings that Look Expensive, you’ll learn how to put together all the cheap supplies that you bought to form table settings pretty enough to be in a magazine.  Subscribe now for free so you don’t miss a single article!

This article is linked to our bloggy friends:

• Find more beautiful tablescapes with Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch. 
• Thrifty Thursdays at Amanda’s Cookin.   
• Frugal Friday at Life as Mom. 
• Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven.

Table setting tablescape photo by tracyhunter.

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Dutch Boy is looking for the ugliest room in America (aka the room in the biggest need of a makeover).  You can enter the contest here (ends 9/30/09).  The winner gets:

• Grand Prize: 12 gallons of Refresh paint and $5,000
• 2nd Place: 8 gallons and $2,500
• 3rd Place: 4 gallons and $1,000

My Mini-Home Makeover

Just to be clear, this article is NOT a paid advertisement.  However, after agreeing to help with the contest, Dutch Boy offered to let me try the paint myself.  So they’re sending me 4 gallons of Dutch Boy Refresh paint to try out! 

My husband and I haven’t decided which lucky room is going to get the makeover yet, but we’ll have plenty of before and after pictures for you.

Our New Home DIY Series

Homemaker Barbi is also starting this spring and summer’s Home DIY Projects series, in which we teach you how to do useful DIY projects for a home makeover of your own.  The DIYs include:

• How to paint a room
• How to choose paint for your home
• How to hang pictures
• How to decorate a peaceful bedroom
• How to hang window treatments and curtains
• Using feng shui for home
• How to hang a towel rack
• 14 Home DIYs Every Homemaker Needs to Know

and many more.  Stay tuned for spring cleaning and home makeover season at Homemaker Barbi!

Photos copyright by and used with permission by Dutch Boy paint.

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1.  Open the windows and doors and let in the fresh air.  Air out your home, even if only for a few minutes (if you’re still experiencing colder weather).   

2.  Bring home a bouquet of fresh springy flowers from the store.  Grocery stores and mass retailers like Walmart have inexpensive mixed bouquets that you can bring home without breaking the budget for a quick pick-me-up.

3.  Set out some brightly colored silk floral arrangements.  Not into fresh flowers?  Silk flowers can be used over and over again, and stored when the season is over.  (Plus you can even wash them in the dishwasher- how’s that for convenience?!)  Put a bouquet of silk flowers on your desk, dining room table, or even in your bathroom to add a hint of spring. 

4.  Change the mats in your picture frames.  This widely overlooked little trick can do volumes to update your decor for the changing season.  Change out dark colored mats in your photo frames for pastels and whites for a spring decorating touch.

5.  Change your menu plan to include lighter recipes.  If you’ve been making thick stews and hearty winter soups for a while, it’s time to perk up your menu plan with spring recipes!  Go for lighter soups, fresh fruits and vegetables, and delicious salads.

6.  Change candles and air fresheners to spring scents.  If you still have spice, pumpkin, evergreen, and other winter and holiday scents lingering, it’s time to pack them away!  Replace these with light, floral scents to add a spring touch.

7.  Declutter for your garage sale now.  Get the kids involved in decluttering as you do your spring cleaning.  Box up all unneeded items to sell at garage sales you may have this summer.

8.  Repaint your walls.  Even if you’re not wild about color, a fresh coat of white paint on clean walls can give you a great basis for your spring decorating.

9.  Pack away the winter outerwear and gear and unpack the spring items: windbreakers, flip flops and sandals, shorts and tank tops are ready to come out of storage.

10.  Update your wardrobe.  Unpack last spring and summer’s clothing and bring it back to your closet.  Make sure to box up your sweaters and other heavy winter clothes for next year.

11.  Change your shower curtain.  Choose a new brightly colored shower curtain to update your bathroom’s decor for spring.  A rainforest, luxurious beach, or palm trees shower curtain design can instantly transport you to summer weather as you wait for the temperatures to rise!

12.  Give your couches and recliners a spring update with slipcovers.  A slipcover can create the illusion of new furniture in an instant.  Go for a light, airy color to brighten up your space for spring.

13.  Switch out throw rugs and throw pillows.  In dens, bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms, little accents of color can perk up your decor with minimal expense and fuss.  Opt for pretty floral colors of throw pillows and rugs to use throughout the house.

Check out our bedroom decorating tips and spring tablescapes while you’re here.  Get more Thursday Thirteen at Happy to be at Home.  Spring house photo by laudu.  Spring flowers photo by Јerry.

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• The furniture in the bedroom should be arranged in such a way that the sleeping, dressing and relaxing areas are differentiated. Declutter the bedroom and get rid of any unused furniture.
• The largest piece of furniture should be the bed, the other furniture should complement it.
• The furniture and the walls should have pastel colors which are soothing to the eye. Monochromatic colors with different shades of the same color on the walls and furniture are also ideal.
• Use rich textures for your bedding teamed with fluffy pillows. Colorful comforters also of a rich fabric such as velvet or silk should be used.
• Use curtains for the windows, don’t leave them plain. The curtains should in white or pastel shades of a flowing and sheer fabric. The curtains can be long, they could even flow down to the floor. Blinds can also be used in the bedroom for getting a dim-light effect in the afternoons.
• Its better not to keep a television set in your bedroom, since it increases the noise decibels in the room which is not ideal for a peaceful bedroom. You can play some soft music or natural sounds CDs. It’s a good idea to install a small tabletop water fountain in the bedroom; the sound of the water flowing is soothing for the ears and can  make it easier to fall asleep.
• Avoid doing any other activities such as watching the television or working on the computer in the bedroom. Use the bedroom only for relaxing and getting a good night’s sleep.
• The lighting in the room is one of the most essential elements for the bedroom. Use soft yellow lights for the dressing table and the lampshades, and use these lights while you are relaxing or just before you go to sleep.
• Have mirrors around the room, they help in giving a better lighting effect to the room, as well as making it look spacious.
• You can also experiment with wallpapers and texture paints for your walls.

Go all out and invest your time to create a cozy and peaceful bedroom to come back to!  Having a relaxing end-of-day sanctuary where you can truly re-center yourself is definitely worth spending the time to decorate a peaceful bedroom.  Next, you’ll want to read about 5 easy ways to redecorate your living room.

Visit Homemaker Mondays at 11th Heaven and Works for Me Wednesday at We are That Family. Top bedroom photo by jinkazamah. Country bedroom photo by One Planet Living in Sutton. 

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It’s Time to Plan Your Summer Tablescapes!

Feeling summer approaching already?  Ready to create some fabulous summer tablescapes for entertaining?  Today we have a summer safari tablescape with animal print for some inspiration.  These photos are punchy with bright summer color against basic zebra print.  While your probably don’t have the frosted glass spiral table or the giant animal print rug, we share easy ways below to duplicate this great summer safari tablescape in your own home.

The look we’re going for is very African desert, safari outing – you get the idea.  To accomplish this we can pair burnt warm colors with bland animal prints, whites, and clears.  Textured linens in natural fibers and colors will also compliment this summer tablescape.

To Create a Safari Summer Tablescape:

• Start with a cream, wheat, or ivory tablecloth – textured fibers are best, such as burlap.
• Placemats should be of animal print in leopard, zebra or cheetah. 
• If you can’t find ready-made placemats in the appropriate  animal print, choose an animal print fabric.  Cut the fabric into squares approximately 12” wide, and stuff one square into each clear wine glass.  Spread a wider square (approximately 18” wide) in the middle of the table as a centerpiece, and cover with a square of beveled glass.
• Choose plates and bowls in a warm and saturated citrus summer color, such as orange, yellow, rust, or tomato red.
• As a nice safari touch, remove dark green leaves from any silk plant.  Lay the leaves out on the large bottom plate of each setting, then stack the next plate or bowl on top.

What ideas do you have for creating summer tablescapes for your warm-weather entertaining?  Let us know in the comments!

Check out our spring tablescapes and garden tablescapes while you’re here.  Visit Tablescape Thursday at Between Naps on the Porch for more summer tablescapes.  Photos by peppma.

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