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Everyone loves to have the perfect Christmas photo. It is the season for parties, reunions, and photo ops with your loved ones. With the number of pictures you have collected, there may be no more place for new ones in your albums. Be creative and use family photos to personalize your home for Christmas. A cool and remarkable way to display your family adventures is during the holidays. After all, Christmas is all about families and the love you’ve shared together. Here are some interesting ideas on how to take Instagrammable family photos for the holidays. 

Display your Christmas decorations

Spruce up your home by displaying your Christmas decors all around your home and even in the backyard. Any holiday decor will do and they will surely spread cheer and represent the personality of the family. It may take time to display them so it is better to take them from the storage as early as when the -ber months start. This will also give you time to test all the lights and replace the ones that are not working anymore. 

Once the Christmas decorations are up, you can now take photos with your friends and family. The decors can be great props or backdrops so you need not worry about it. These will also give you an instant theme. Simply frame the shot and establish the right lighting. Try to experiment with zoom lenses to get the right angle and shot. 

Formal and elegant pictures with your loved ones

It is common for us to take candid shots with our loved ones. Most of them are hilarious and show the real you. Make it cooler with formal photos. These photos are actually staged and professional-looking. You get the chance to wear your best outfit and be in your model-like pose.

Displaying your formal pictures is the most classic way of personalizing your home for the holidays. These will likewise gather all eyes together and make them the attraction of your rooms. Formal photos can also be used to send greetings to your friends, just like Christmas cards. Formal photos may be challenging at times, especially if you have toddlers at home. The pictures can be extra special with all members wearing clothes in Christmas colors. Do not make it difficult for you and use good quality cellphone cameras to take the pictures. 

Pictures while having Christmas dinner

Food photos can be a great display during the holidays. Having a feast with your family is extra special. Especially when it is documented with photos. Capture the dining table or kitchen full of people preparing the dinner. Capture all these events and try to tell stories so you will be able to create a nostalgic atmosphere when you display them.

Fun costumes for Christmas

Santa may not come on Christmas day, but you can make kids happy by dressing up like him. Dress the dog like a reindeer and take some shots to make the Christmas celebrations memorable. Dress your youngest child like a snowman to complete the scene. 

Final Thoughts

Whatever your gimmick be during the season, the best idea is to document everything. Family pictures will surely level up your home. Personalizing it with family pictures will likewise create a nostalgic atmosphere that you can share with the whole family while enjoying a sumptuous meal. 

With a few weeks left before Christmas, you may already have completed shopping for gifts to be given to your loved ones. Decors are all around us amidst the COVID 19 virus still lurking like a rat waiting for its chance to steal food. However, it is still not too late to make your home perfect for the holidays. In fact, there are tons of ideas and inspiration that you can use to prepare your home for the Christmas celebration this year and make it look and feel festive. With the classic red and green color scheme that we have known since childhood, you can give it a twist and turn to create an eye-catching Christmas-themed interior for a perfect and memorable Christmas. 

Classic with a twist

Many people love the classic. Why not? There are many elements in the style that would remind you of your childhood. Although the concept is a bit non-specific, it still gives many homeowners and designers goosebumps as they recall their past. Classic design style suits almost anything. Black and white is probably the most popular theme that can easily give your interior a classic look for the holidays. 

Boosting the standard

When it comes to interior decoration, there will always be standards that would serve as a basis for other design styles. Sticking with the traditional is not bad. However, some people may find this a bit dull and boring as many are looking for something new and creative. For instance, the addition of Christmas accessories in candy colors will give any room a modern and stylish look. You can also add ribbons if you feel a little crafty. 

Less is more

Less is not a bad idea, unlike what others think. Here are a few minimalist decorating ideas that can truly give a great look to your home. 

• Fewer items used, the better. This is the whole idea of using a minimalist design style. 
• Buy Christmas trees that come with lights. Arranging the lights may be quite a challenge for some. With this, you will spend less time arranging the lights for your trees. 
• Do not use too many colors as this will make your home look chaotic. Use shades of a few chosen colors so that these will give you a trendy and chic interior. 
• Use fruits and vegetables as decoration. These will save you money and your home will also have a fresh and natural feel and smell. 
• Use one color of lighting for your Christmas tree as it can make a calm and relaxing vibe. 
• A simple pinecone can be used as a decoration. Fill a plate or bowl with pinecones along with candies for a more wonderful holiday vibe. 
• Use ribbons to decorate the tree or your surroundings. 

Materials for Christmas

Christmas decors need not have to be made from soft materials all the time. The use of metal pieces as the decor has proven to be a perfect choice. Metal decors look best with dark interiors as they can be highlighted. 

Flowers are still great

Want to add life to your home for the holidays? Use simple flowers or wreaths for a look that you have been longing for. You can place them anywhere and they would still look great. Add them to the door, window, or you can create a centerpiece of flowers for a warm and comfortable living space. 

Let it snow!

Snowflakes are some of the favorite Christmas decors. Hang them on the wall or the curtain and do not just use one size. 

Home decorations reveal so much about you. Your lifestyle, personality, passion, and others. This is also true with the other people living in your home. The decors that you choose for your home are a reflection of so many things about you. It may be optional, yet many people still opt to decorate the interior as well as the exterior of their homes. But the real question is: “Why do people decorate their homes?” Here you will know why as well as when it all began. 

As a start, home decorating helps you to personalize your space, in which they leave their imprint on that space. In addition to these, home decorating helps in making it inviting, comfortable, and cozy. 

When did home decorating start?

There are different reasons why people decorate their homes and you may wonder when it all started. In fact, you would not believe that it all started during the prehistoric period. If we are going to discuss everything that happened, then this article would not be enough. Archaeologic excavations have been done to gain more knowledge about our past. It was also revealed that caves during that period already have paintings on the walls. This was the first wall art ever recorded. Cavemen draw all of their activities and experiences. From hunting for food and the accidental discovery of fire, cave paintings have given us vast knowledge of prehistoric life and civilization.

Ancient civilizations, such as the Egyptians and Chinese also have decorated their interiors. Ancient pyramids in Egypt are filled with hieroglyphs and other symbols to tell the story of their civilization as well as to record history. Decors were also used to symbolize their culture and beliefs.

The modern home decoration was done by the selected few. Wealthy people and noble people were the ones who can afford the materials needed to decorate their interiors. Tapestries and expensive trinkets were displayed as a status symbol. Eventually, these all turned around as decors were mass-produced and became more affordable to the masses. As such, more homes are able to have interior decorations making them more inviting and cozy. This continued up to these days as more homes have decorations, both in interior and exterior. Thanks to the availability of modern technology and materials. 

Personalizing their homes

Identity is vital to all humans and the home is a perfect venue to showcase your personality. You have the freedom and flexibility in choosing the color, design, and features you like. There are many ways on how to personalize your homes. The display of particular decorative items, like posters and other wall decors showcases who and what you are. Teenagers often display posters of their favorite artists. Sometimes to the point of covering the entire wall of their room with images of their favorite band, singers, actors, or actresses. 

Making their homes look more comfortable

Personalizing your home makes it more comfortable and inviting. As a result, you will have a calmer mind that will let you be more focused on the things that you need to accomplish. People decorate because they have tons of choices available these days. From the display of figurines and antiques to the hanging of trendy art, your home will have the look that you wanted over the years.  

Increase the value

Planning to sell your house for a good price? The interior of the house is as important as the exterior. Nobody wants an ugly house, both the inside and the outside. Decorating the house as well as a few renovations will surely increase the resale value of your home. Make sure to decorate it from time to time so that by the time you decide to sell it, there will be little things to do. 

For special events

Birthdays, weddings, Christmas, New Year, Valentine’s Day. There are so many events to celebrate throughout the year. Decorating your home for these special events will make the celebrations extra special. Moreover, your family will surely have a memorable celebration with you and their loved ones. 

Already in the planning stage for your wedding? This is probably one of the most challenging parts before the big day. You will have to choose the right wedding cake, the gown, reception area, flowers, and others. With so many choices on the table, you will surely be confused about which ones to choose. However, if you are planning to have the wedding ceremony at your home, then you also have to prepare your home big time! Do not stress yourself as there are simple and inexpensive ways to prepare your house for this momentous occasion. 

Clean your house and make it stay that way

Big efforts are needed into getting your house organized and clean especially before the big day. As it draws closer, you should be able to focus on the preparation rather than cleaning up and making things look bright. Of course, many people will keep on coming in and out of your home. This will be difficult for your to keep your home clean. A robot vacuum will be a good help in removing the dust off your floors. It does not have to be that expensive. You can get good deals online. As such, cleaning the floors would be simple.

Try to rent some items instead of getting new ones

For sure, you will have some events before the wedding day. Relatives from different places will be coming in to stay in your home. Friends will come and go for visits. Your things may not be sufficient, like chairs and tables. Avoid buying new ones and look for rentals. Wine glasses, tents, decors are likewise available for rent as long as you take time in search of them. Ask your friends if they know someone to save time and effort. Another way is to check social media as you can see a lot of rentals there. 

Relieve your guests from stress

Wedding and wedding preparations are fun and exciting. They can also be highly stressful. It is important to keep everyone relaxed and maintain a comfortable ambiance to your home. If the room temperature is warm, try adding some electric fans and paper fans to keep your guests comfortable. You may also use calming scents with the use of scented candles of oils to calm your nerves before the big day. Examples of scents you can try are lavender and cedarwood. 

Prepare simple yet sumptuous meals

Food is very crucial during these times. However, this should be the last of your worries especially if you have a large number of guests. It is also vital to prepare healthy food especially for those who are on maintenance meds. You do not want your wedding to be the cause of their health problems. Plan your meals and snacks even before they arrive. You can hire some help in preparing the meals. Prepare a snack bar where they can pick their own stress busters. It is also cute to see a colorful healthy snack bar for the little ones. 

How about pets?

Pets do get stressed especially if they are not familiar with their surroundings. Look for someone who can take care of them while you are away or busy with the preparations and celebrations. You may also bring your pets along with you, especially anxious animals. 

Decorate your home

There are a lot of ways to maintain a festive ambiance in your home. Decorating the walls is one of the easiest and fastest ways to keep them cool and lovely. Posters are some of the wonderful wall decors that can be a great help when preparing your home before the big day. There are a lot of themes available. Floral prints are also perfect to make the ambiance perfect for the event. You can also personalize it with your photos with family and friends. 

In many houses, the walls get the usual covering such as flat, eggshell, or semi-gloss interior paint. The good thing about this is that you can never go wrong with coating the walls with interior paint. However, there are other wall coverings that can be used to make your walls appealing and exciting. A great wall covering can likewise be the focal point of the house. Some of these wallcoverings are highly textured and not recommended to cover the whole house with it since it will produce visual overload. Try using highly textured wall coverings on an accent wall instead of multiple walls to have an interesting wall decoration. 

Wood Wainscot

Conventionally, this is an area of wooden paneling on the lower part of the walls of a room. This is often wood beadboard and can be commonly seen painted in white. White wainscot projects a retro appearance of a summer cottage. The reality is that you do not have to confine yourself with white. You can paint it in an array of colors. Wainscot is also readily available and inexpensive. You can get them from the local lumberyard or home improvement store. There are basically two main forms of wood wainscot: Tongue-and-groove plywood beadboard paneling that still requires cutting and priming; MDF panels that are exclusively made for wainscot, and is already primed and ready for painting.

Tile Wainscot

Commonly, a wainscot is made of wood. Tile can also be used in wainscoting and is ideal in the bathroom. Joining tile to tile creates a perfect water-sealed seam. This will also look good in other rooms aside from the bathroom, as long as they will look appropriate.

Floor-to-ceiling tile

Cover the wall with tiles from the floor way up to the ceiling to create a modern look for your interior wall. However, choose the appropriate wall to lay the tiles on as this will cause visual overload if multiple walls are tiled.

Modern wallpaper

This type of wallpaper can provide a sophisticated and glamorous appearance. The design can provide a fresh and trendy look. Commonly, simple patterns and colors can provide a bold and clean look. Geometric figures, textures, floral, and more futuristic designs can give a modern wall appearance that will be loved by many homeowners.

Manufactured Stone Veneer

Man-made stone veneer is composed of Portland cement, aggregates, and iron oxides. Just like natural stones, manufactured stone veneer also has the same weight and durability.

Faux stone veneer

This is usually made of styrofoam that looks like a real stone. The drawback is that faux stone veneer can dent easily therefore these should be installed in areas where physical contact is not that much.

Wood wall panels

Today, wood paneling is one of the popular wall covering designs available that looks great on the wall interior. These panels are usually made from rosewood, oak, ebony, teak, and other exotic woods. The size is small and they are usually mounted horizontally.

Mosaic tiles made of bamboo

If you are looking for a wall covering that is fresh and modern, then the bamboo mosaic tile is a perfect choice. The food thing about bamboo is that they are sustainable as it can be grown easily. So no need to worry about waiting for a long period of time to have a full-grown plant. Bamboo tiles are ideal indoors and try not to install them in the bathroom.

Mosaic tiles made of cork

These are tiny round tiles made of cork and are bound together on mesh mats for easy installation. These are ideal for wall sections or for backsplashes.

Removable wallpaper

Unlike conventional wallpaper, this type of wallpaper can be removed with no special tools needed. Ideal for apartment living where you can just remove them without the fuss when the time comes that you decided to leave the apartment. 

By definition, posters are large print, ads, or decorations that are displayed on walls. They are commonly used as a promotion of an idea, product, or event displayed in a public space for mass consumption. It is common to see posters that include textual and graphic elements. There are also those that may be either wholly graphical or textual. This definition may show that there are different types of posters in terms of themes and designs. This article gives you an overview of the different types of posters and why they are special. 

Advertising

Advertising posters are used by different companies for promotional purposes. These posters are designed to catch the attention of the public in order for them to take action. These can be anything from purchasing the product to lifestyle change. Advertising posters are commonly designed to house subliminal messages. They are also filled with symbolisms and are aimed to provoke, inspire, and distress. These posters are designed to give the “WOW-factor” and can either be serious or hilarious. 

Informative

Informative posters appear in different designs and greatly depend on the information that you want to convey. Some will look like infographics and others may be purely visuals. They contain different facts to educate. Informative posters are based on facts. These posters are generally created to educate the public. Some may also appear fun and exciting like in food and beverages posters.

Motivational or Inspirational

Motivational posters only have one purpose and that is to inspire. They contain motivational quotes or messages and are represented with large and bold typography, overlaid on an attractive background/. They are always optimistic and will help the viewers to feel good and encouraged. 

Movie posters

Movie posters are used to advertise or promote a film and serve as the cover for all promotional materials. These posters aim to tease the public about the upcoming films. As such, the posters will be helped in making decisions in purchasing tickets for the movie. Movie posters are also designed to contain different elements that are featured in the film. 

Event posters

Event posters are created to inform the public about an upcoming event. These posters likewise offer a little information about the event. Think of the posters as a teaser or promotional material. They may also stimulate the interests of the public. In many instances, event posters contain all the needed information of what the public can expect from the event. The elements seen on the posters must match the theme of the event. They may also appear mostly in typography with some design in the background. 

Travel posters

Travel posters aim to inspire the viewers to see the world. They are also used by different travel agencies and airline companies to promote their services. Travel posters may have different themes such as vintage, art deco, and modern. They have a timeless appearance and captures the beauty of travel destinations. 

Research posters

These posters are used by the academic community in presenting their discoveries in their research or studies. Research posters are completely different from the posters that we know. It is heavy on texts, data, and other visualizations. In addition to these, jargon is also used in presenting data and information. 

Sleep is important to all of us. Every age has their respective sleep requirements per day. However, there are those who find sleep as a luxury due to certain reasons. Experts believe that there are design flaws that greatly affect the quality of sleep. Read on to learn more about interior design and its effects on sleep pattern.

Home design and sleep

Each one of us has our own required number of hours of sleep every day. Unfortunately, there are different factors that can ruin sleep. Examples are the food and drinks you have, presence and use of gadgets, watching television, and others. It has also been observed that the design of your home can likewise affect the quality of sleep. For instance, the arrangement of your furniture pieces and the interior design style can have a significant impact on sleep quality. As such, many homeowners consult Feng Shui experts.

The art of Feng Shui

Feng Shui is an ancient Chinese philosophy of harmonizing the environment and humans. It is one of the Five Arts of Metaphysics that is classified as physiognomy. Feng Shui is concerned with architecture, design, and the forces that bind the universe together. 

Feng Shui has been used over the centuries in construction and design. It has helped on how buildings are oriented and linked with the spiritual world. During the Cultural Revolution in the 60s, the practice of the Art was temporarily ceased due to the claim that it is purely based on superstitions and the absence of any supporting principles and theories. 

These days, Feng Shui is widely used in construction and design. Even landscape artists and scientists use Feng Shui in their research and projects. For example, Feng Shui experts are considered to know and understand more the proper ways of preserving the environment. 

Designing the bedroom with Feng Shui

Needless to say, the bedroom should be comfortable and relaxing. Feng Shui experts believe that there are common mistakes in designing the bedroom. The position of the bed, for instance, is important. Experts recommend that the position of the bed should leave equal spaces on both sides. As such, the bed must not be pushed up against the wall. This arrangement represents an equal space between you and your partner. This can be balanced with the addition of two side tables with lamps.

Another example is the layout of the bedroom. The door should be aligned with the bed. This layout allows the feeling of good opportunities to come to their lives. This also allows the entry of positive energy into the room. These arrangements can help revitalize your life through the bedroom. 

The accumulation of clutter should also be avoided as this can cause intimacy and health issues. Make sure that the bedroom is free of any debris. Place your stuff in their proper places. In addition to these, take the television out of the bedroom as this may disrupt sleep. Plants and flowers must also be kept outside the bedroom or keep them out of the line of sight of your bed.

You also need to have a comfortable and supportive mattress. Choose the mattress that will not cause any discomfort in your back. The bed should also be high enough to allow the flow of energy in the room.

Halloween is just around the corner and still not decided on what to decorate your home? Halloween decorations need not always be scary. Many kids around the world celebrate the season with costumes and going around the neighborhood for trick or treat. Prepare your home for Halloween with scary but cute decorations. Both kids and adults will surely love them and will make your home perfect for the season.

History of Halloween

Halloween was thought to have started with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain. During those times, people would light bonfires and wear costumes to get rid of lost souls. In the 8th century, Pope Gregory III designated the 1st of November as a day to honor all saints and martyrs. Since then, the day has been called All Saint’s Day. The eve before November 1 was called All Hallow’s Eve and eventually named Halloween. Over the years, the holiday became a celebration for the whole community where kid-friendly activities were organized. 

How Halloween is celebrated

Houses and other establishments were designed not only to scare people. They were decorated to entertain, thrill, and astonish viewers. These days, Halloween decorations are displayed to let people feel the spirit of the holiday. In many instances, decorations may appear scary, but there are those that are funny and cute. Just like in many holidays, families prepare food, decorate their interior and exterior, and buy candies for kids for their trick or treat activities. 

DIY Halloween decorations for the family

DIY Halloween decorations are fun and challenging. With the right materials, inspirations, and creativity, you will be able to successfully create decors that will make your homes look impressive. DIY decorations will also save you money to buy other items needed for the holiday. You can also check your storage for items and materials that you can use to make the necessary transformations in your homes. Posters and scary pictures may also be used to easily decorate the walls. You may also check yard sales, antique stores, and thrift shops for items on sale. 

Outdoor Halloween decoration ideas

Halloween decorations can be displayed for a month. These will make your front yard and even the backyard look scary and awesome. Here are some cool ideas that you can use to make your homes visually appealing:

Oversized poseable hairy spider

Create a 4-feet wide spider that will send chills down the spines of your neighbor. This can be done with different materials such as cartons, old newspaper, paint, and others.

Inverted cross tombstone

Turn your front yard into a haunted cemetery with a couple of strategically placed tombstones.

Crazy black skeleton cat

This can be made from plastic and look like a creepy cat that is frozen in an attack stance. A cool decor that will greet any trick or treaters who will visit your home.

Fog machine

Hide the fog machine in a thick layer of shrubs as it pumps out thick layers of clouds. The fog may then cover your lawn that will enhance a scary vibe.

Grim reaper statue

A hooded figure that wears a weathered, time-worn piece of garment. This can be illuminated with flameless candles to create a ghoulish glow.

Halloween decorations that kids will love

There are many things that you can do to make the season be felt in your home. New or old decorations are great to create the right atmosphere. With creativity and imagination, you will be able to transform the interior of your homes into something festive and scary. Here are a few examples Jack-o-lanterns, candy corn licorice trees, mustached ghosts, decoupage pumpkins, and painted pumpkin luminaries. 

 

Among the colors in the color wheel, green is probably the most important of all. It is the color of nature and has been associated with “bloom”, “growth”, and “grass”. The leaves of plants have a green color because of the chlorophyll pigment present. This pigment is vital for the survival of plants for them to produce food and oxygen. In life, green is related to balance, calmness, and harmony.  However, not all green can be helpful. There are also green substances that can be harmful to health and the environment.

How color green is manufactured

Surprisingly, how the color is manufactured may be contradicting the common concept of the color green. Manufacturing the color is not environmentally friendly because of the chemicals used. It has been shown in several studies that you cannot dye certain materials like plastics without contaminating them. It is therefore a necessity to use stabilizers to manufacture the color green. Examples are chlorine, titanium, cobalt, and zinc oxides. Unfortunately, these chemicals are known to cause birth defects and cancer. 

Color green in the history of mankind

In the past, artists were struggling to create the right shade of green for their artwork. Even if they thought that they already have the exact shade of green, it will eventually fade or get discolored through time. Early green-colored paints are even corrosive and can damage the canvas. During the early period, the color green is created with the addition of arsenic, a known poisonous substance. Many experts also believe that the said chemical was responsible for the death of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1821.

However, as time goes by, the color is commonly used by environmentalists as it is associated with the natural color of nature. Whatever and however the color is manufactured, green has many benefits, both in health and the environment. 

Environmentalists and the color green

It was in 1970 that the color was used and resurfaced to be associated with certain environmental groups. The Canadian environmentalist group, Greenpeace, used a ship in Alaska to conduct a campaign against nuclear testing.

Since then, anything that is colored green is associated with the environment. Products with green-colored packaging suggest that they are environmentally friendly. Until this day, color is being used by many manufacturing companies in branding and marketing strategies. 

Final Thoughts

Green is a cool and calming color that is associated with many things. The color is often used in environmental-related things. Interestingly, it has a toxic history as manufacturing the color is not that easy. Certain harmful chemicals were used and these chemicals are known to be detrimental to health and the environment. These chemicals were used to stabilize the color and make it useful in creating the desired shades of green. As such, painters were able to use the color with ease but with side effects. For years, this has been the case but throughout the years, people used the color and associated it with the environment. A cool color that when used in the interior can create a comfortable and relaxing vibe.