There are so many options on the home décor front today that allow an individual to showcase their own unique personality. Whether you’ve chosen your décor to purposely match your style or not, you’ll find the items and colors that surround you to say a lot about who you are. While there’s no right or wrong way to decorate your own dwelling, you want to remember to have fun with it and choose what suits your own brand of home furnishings and not someone else’s.
Colors
The palette of colors to paint your home is quite extensive today, and you’ll find there to be a shade to suit every personality and mood. Buying high quality framed art for the home will make all the colors pop when passing by.. Guests walking into a home with bright yellow and pink hues may need their sun glasses to navigate through your home. However, if you like the colors, and they fit with your décor, you can feel proud knowing that you’ve added your own style and flare.
If you border on being orderly, and you like everything in place, your colors may be a bit more sterile and neutral oriented. Whichever you decide, the cost of hiring painters can be expensive. There is a simple solution. You can try doing some of it yourself by painting the walls and hiring someone to paint the trim. Another solution is to opt for an accent wall which would only cost a portion of the price to cover the entire room.
Styles
From contemporary and Asian to country and elegant, you’ll find a host of styles to choose from when decorating your home. However, the style that you select isn’t the most important part of the equation. Your home should speak volumes about your personality the moment your guests enter your home. If your style is more reserved and elegant, leggy furnishings and cool fabrics may showcase your personality best.
If you’re more on the quirky side, you may wow your guests with a more unusual themed home with modern chairs, vibrant sofas and ornate lamps. You don’t have pay a lot to achieve this. The trick is to shop at discount stores such as Ross or Garden Ridge that specializes in providing closeout items at low prices. You can also design pretty floral arrangements and unique wall decor yourself by shopping from a craft store. You can actually order some items in bulk online. That is the ultimate way to show who you truly are.
Artwork
In addition to your home furnishings and paint choices, you’ll find that paintings and artistic displays can add to your personal tastes. An individual with Victorian tastes may lean toward a floral print with an ornate frame painted gold that hangs over the fireplace mantel. Modernized quality framed art for the home, paintings, and eclectic pieces displayed throughout your dwelling can display artifacts collected around the globe or from your favorite retail establishment. Believe it or not, you can find some very interesting reasonably priced pieces at Family Dollar and Dollar General stores. You may even be able to find a classy antique piece that you can refurbish a your local thrift store.
Have Fun
You’ve probably waited all of your life to finally have a say in how you decorate your home environment. While you may have been able to decorate your room as a child with posters, toys and wall art, you’ll find that there’s nothing like furnishing your own home. Before you set out to begin the project, you’ll want to do some research by looking online for ideas. You’ll also find some great examples through your favorite magazines and books too. Since this is your own living space that you’ll be creating, you want to have fun and light up your inner personality.
While visitors to your home may not say anything about your decorating style, you’ll be able to read their response in their expressions. However, it’s not your guests that you need to worry about impressing. Choosing ideas that mesh with your personality and allow it to shine through is your primary focus and a decision you’ll be happy about.
Domonique Powell is owner of Sweet Solutions Inc. which parents Sweetpea’s Wearhouse & Gifts; a small retail store. She has many hobbies which she enjoys such as freelance writing. But, her greatest joy is raising her four children.
If you don’t you will never reach the level of prosperity you dream about. It’s all up to you and absolutely no one else. Read on to see how to do it.
Yesterday I started writing my expenses and then wrote my ideal income scenario. I kept it simple so I wouldn’t overload my brain. Here are a few tips I can pass along to you:
Decide where you want the income to come from (i.e. work, gifts, child support, side gigs, etc.)
Do a simple breakdown of what you need to do to reach the amount you set. Makes it more concrete. For example: If work goal is $35k year (which is $2,916 gross), divide the monthly amount by your hourly pay to see how many hours you need to work. Do this for your side gig and any other income generating activity you will do this year.
Believe that when God gives you a vision he will make the provision. (In this case for your finances)
Hold the vision for your best income level to happen this year. You can’t reach your goal if you are busy thinking negative thoughts feeling afraid.
Remember it has to be a combination of planning and believing you are worth receiving the income you want.
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Nearly 150 days separate the last day of the winter holidays from the first unofficial day of summer – Memorial Day. After holiday decorations get packed away, and winter sets in, it’s not uncommon to experience a touch – or more – of winter boredom.
Some people may find themselves in a rut during those long 150 days. Fortunately, a number of tactics can help perk up your spirits. Here is a handful to consider as you enter 2014:
Escape the routine
Traveling during winter has many benefits. In many areas of the country, winter months are slower business times for hotels and resorts, and you may find great deals. What’s more, breaking up the routine and going somewhere new and exciting – or relaxing – may help alleviate winter blues.
Immersing yourself in relaxation and pampering could be just what you need to release winter tensions. Places like The American Club resort in the quaint Village of Kohler, Wis., offers luxurious accommodations and the opportunity to step outside the winter routine. The newly renovated Carriage House sits above the five-star Kohler Waters Spa. Owned by Kohler Co., the leading manufacturer of bathing products, it’s no surprise the spa is renowned for its cutting-edge bathing and hydrotherapy services.
Such destinations offer you the opportunity to immerse yourself in luxury and do absolutely nothing, or get your blood pumping with all the exciting attractions, activities and culinary experiences at the resort and surrounding area.
Refresh your environment
Travel isn’t always possible, but you can still experience a change in perspective when you make changes in your home environment. Kitchen and bathroom renovations are top choices and winter is a great time to tackle those projects.
If you have the budget, by all means – go big. But if your budget is more modest, don’t despair; even small changes like new shower heads, faucets and accessories can give a room a spirit-lifting new look and feel. Doubt the power of a shower head to transform a bath? Consider the KOHLER Moxie Showerhead + Wireless Speaker. Its wireless speaker pairs with devices enabled with Bluetooth technology, offering a delightful and energizing showering experience. Available in four new colors (Chartreuse, Retro Blue, Navy Blue or Cherry Red), this showerhead will not only provide new decor but also an upgraded showering experience.
Make your own holidays
Who says you have to limit spirit-lifting celebrations to specific days of the year? If gathering with family and friends around the dinner table makes you happy, why not choose one day a month and have everyone over? Decorate for a theme that you enjoy – such as the beach or even the Fourth of July in January.
Celebrate each family member with a special outing. Perhaps in January, your first-grader will choose a trip to the local indoor playground. In February, your husband might opt for a family bowling night. Allowing each member of the family to choose a destination gets everyone involved and excited. Plus, unusual family outings are a great way to brighten winter days.
The days between New Year’s and spring don’t have to drag. Just step outside the routine – whether through travel or innovation at home – to help beat the winter blues
Samantha A. Gregory is an author, consultant, and speaker. She’s a single-mom lifestyle, money, and parenting expert featured in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Essence Magazine, HuffPost, ABC News, and Mint.com.
Samantha founded the award-winning RichSingleMomma.com™, the first online magazine featuring personal finance, parenting, and personal development content and courses for single moms.
She aims to inspire women who are ready to thrive and not just survive in their single motherhood journey. Connect with her on Instagram @richsinglemomma.
Hi! Welcome to RichSingleMomma.com. I started this website almost a decade ago because I couldn't find any blogs back then that helped single moms with money. I was having some success in that area so I decided to share what I knew about side hustles, making extra money, and managing money. Read more...
