Cool Ways To Prepare For The Holidays

Christmas tree snowflakes poster in interior

While many of us are enjoying the cool winds of the season, malls are already packed with items for the Christmas rush. Christmas is one of the most awaited days of the year and it is just smart to prepare early. Preparation is not an overnight process and you will surely regret it when things are half-baked. Early preparation means that when Christmas day arrives, all you have to do is sit and relax. 

Why prepare early for Christmas

It is a fact that the Philippines has one of the longest Christmas in the world. When -ber months set in, you will surely hear Christmas songs being played in malls, radio, and even public transportations. Early preparation is the best way to save money, refrain from stress, and avoid headaches. 

Have you coordinated with your family members on how to celebrate Christmas this year? Of course, we understand that families have traditions that they want to keep in terms of the annual celebration of Christmas. It is still recommended to plan ahead so that to avoid missing any important details. Preparing a few days before Christmas will leave you stressed out, unsatisfied, and panicking. All you want to happen is for the day to be finished. That’s what we want to avoid. 

Prepping for Christmas

Many of us love Christmas and preparing for it is natural and innate. Each individual or family has their own style of prepping and probably the simples that easiest way to start is to make a list. Once you have a list, everything else will be easy and smooth. Proper planning, coordination, distribution of job assignments, and budgeting can extremely help in preventing any untoward events or incidents. 

Work within the budget

Celebrating Christmas means that you have to spend cash. You need to work out your budget so that you can prepare smartly. Remember all the things that you need including food, decors, gifts, attire, greeting cards, and even the fare to and from the malls or supermarket. Work out what you will need to spend and write them all down. This will give you a better idea of how to manage your funds without wasting any cash on unnecessary items. 

Fill in your calendar

December is a busy month for many of us. Make sure to start filling your diary or calendar with the various activities that you need to do. Examples are parties, school events, company lunches or dinners, and others. This practice will prevent you from missing anything. Do not forget any school activities of your kids. If you are planning to order food, make a note when you can order and when you can pick it up. The more organized you are, the better you will feel for the celebrations. 

Make a guest list

Preparing for the Christmas celebration is not easy. Therefore, it is just right to keep track of the people who will attend. Knowing the number of attendees will help you get organized. Make your list and check it twice. Go and find out who will come or not. Start planning for the items that will be needed such as toiletries, extra plates, utensils, food, and drinks. Do not forget the relatives and friends who will stay so you will need extra bedding, beds, pillows, and blankets. 

Send the invites

Send out the invites to know your loved ones that you will be hosting the celebration for Christmas. Be sure to make a note that they will give you their response a few days or a week before the most anticipated day. This will allow you to prepare enough food and drinks so everybody will be satisfied and contented. 

Prepare food early

There are certain food that can be prepared early and kept frozen such as gravy, stuffing, and others. Doing this will save you time and effort to attend to other important things for the celebration. If you can order online, do so to give you more time in prepping. 

Ask for help 

You need not do everything by yourself. Give your family members their respective tasks and monitor them from time to time. With their help, everything will be smooth and organized. Happy holidays!

Attractive Posters For The Kitchen

Life happen coffee helps poster

Food and drink posters are the most common prints displayed in the kitchen. In fact, they are the easiest to display in the room as they completely blend well with the purpose and function of the room. However, food and drink posters become boring in the long run. Try to be innovative and use other poster designs to give the kitchen a fresh new appeal. For the kitchen to look lively and vibrant, consider decorating the wall with poster designs that are classic and timeless, such as black and white prints.

Decorating the kitchen walls

As many of us know, the kitchen is not only used to prepare our meals. Just like in any other room, the kitchen may be multifunctional. It can be a place for entertainment in which a television set is added. It can also be a place for dining or for eating breakfast with the family. In other households, the room is also used to receive guests. 

It is important to treat the kitchen just like how we treat the other rooms of the house. At least when it comes to decorating the walls. By tradition and practice, kitchens are usually decorated with food and drink posters. However, there are other designs that can be used to break the tradition. Kitchen wall art can add visual interest and personality to the room. In addition to framed artworks, homeowners use oversized utensils, tapestries with designs that are associated with the room. Want to make the kitchen look more stylish and trendy/ use oversized letters in various fonts and colors. This decor is created with the use of thin but sturdy metals that may be light enough to be displayed. 

Poster designs to display in the kitchen

There are no strict rules when it comes to decorating the kitchen with posters. Although, there are some when it comes to how you hang and arrange them on your walls. There are many designs and themes to choose from. For instance, abstract posters add life with the colors, patterns, and designs they have, Nature-themed posters can also give a refreshing and rejuvenating vibe to the kitchen. With the images of plants, flowers, seascapes, and landscapes, the kitchen will have a calming and relaxing atmosphere that you will love. 

Go minimalist with Scandinavian-inspired prints as well as black and white posters. These posters will help you achieve a simple yet elegant room appearance that can be the highlight of the entire house. In fact, many homes these days use the minimalist design style as there are also benefits they give to the mind and body. 

Typography posters are also popular and many of them have inspirational or motivational quotes. Sometimes what we need are positive words to keep us going. The messages written on the posters, though however simple they are, can have a big impact on our total well-being. 

Prepare the kitchen for the holidays with Christmas-themed posters. Not only that these prints will bring the spirit of Christmas to your home, but they will also make the kitchen look vibrant and lovely. With the colors of the season in your kitchen, you will have inspiration and motivation in prepping the meals for Christmas. 

Personalizing Your Home For The Holidays With Family Photos

Sleigh in town poster

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. 

A Festive Christmas Celebration This Year

Snowflakes boho color background poster in interior

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. 

Why People Decorate Their Homes?

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. 

Prepare Your Home For The Wedding Day

Pink flower focus poster

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. 

Abstract Mango poster

Abstract Mango poster

Mangoes are are the food of the gods. The tree represents love, wealth, fertility, and immortality. The leaves are even used in wedding ceremonies in India to ensure the couple that they can bear many children.

Trendy Wall Coverings

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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. 

7 Types Of Posters And What They Do

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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. 

Design Flaws That May Ruin Your Sleep

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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.