Discover the expert in you.
Discover the expert in you.
Poinsettia, known scientifically as Euphorbia pulcherrima, is a brightly colored shrub commonly sold as a decoration during the holiday season. It is a self-reproducing species, meaning it houses both the male and female organs required to pollinate. However, you can encourage your poinsettia to crossbreed with a different variety of the species by transferring pollen between the plants. The female organ grows on the male organ, making it difficult to crossbreed a poinsettia successfully each time.
In the eyes of an artist, a pair of plain ballet flats is like a blank wall or canvas: It’s just waiting for a splash of color and a classic, signature touch. You don’t have to be a ballerina to wear ballet flats; in fact, many women change into them after a long day on their feet. And flats are increasingly popular footwear at weddings because they are easier to dance in than high-heeled shoes. Now, more than ever, it pays to unleash your inner artist and maybe do a pirouette, too.
If you have a the basics of a Nativity scene, there are a few things you can do to decorate and make it look more interesting. Whether your Nativity scene is one that is the size of a shoe box or life size, some extra effects will make it look more like a real scene from the past.
Homemade Christmas decorations can be appropriate gifts for your loved ones, or to simply decorate your own home with. Garlands with beads can be created in Christmas colors such green, red or white. They can also be created in other non-Christmas colors as decoration for other holidays.
A Christmas centerpiece made of branches and twigs is sure to add rustic charm to your holiday table. The centerpiece is completely original, costs nearly nothing, and if necessary, can be created at the last minute. To find branches and twigs for this nature-based Christmas centerpiece, take a walk in a nearby meadow or look in your own backyard. You can make this versatile centerpiece large and showy or simple and understated.
Evergreen trees go through a yearly process called seasonal needle loss. Most healthy conifers retain the color of their needles throughout the winter, but during the fall, the older needles near the trunk turn bright yellow and fall off. These are replaced by new tufts, which remain with the tree for several years before undergoing the same process. Seasonal needle loss is part of the regular cycle of an evergreen and very commonly mistaken for a health problem. However, thinning of the needles isn't always normal, and symptoms such as heavy foliage loss, discoloration and direct damage to the bark…
Take your inspiration from an art gallery and decorate a platform above an entryway with a sculptural tableau. Depending on the style and mood of your home, simple objects or works of art can set off your entryway. The entryway creates the first impression of your home, and a high platform can act as a stage for a display that expresses your tastes. Make the most of a high platform by selecting three-dimensional items to display. You may need an assistant to safely decorate a high platform.
If you have been fortunate enough to design and build your own home, no doubt the windows and other architectural features are located exactly where you need them. In most cases, homeowners have to design around existing windows and walls that are not always conveniently situated. When tearing out and boarding up oddly placed windows is not an option, find creative and attractive ways to work around them.
The shape of ribbon candy is formed by pulling it, as warm sugar, into flattened strips and then folding it back and forth on itself to form ribbon effects. The candy is often made in mint flavor with the addition of flavored extract. Colors are added with food color dyes. Because the candy is so festive and decorative, it is often used to decorate cakes. You can even use it to make a Christmas cake look like a present.
Plasma TVs operate by burning particles of gas at extremely high temperatures, but that doesn't mean that they aren't susceptible to damage from extreme temperatures. While the gases that generate the picture aren't adversely affected by temperature outside the unit, plasma TVs do contain electronic components that are fragile. LG plasma TVs are in no danger when used at normal indoor temperatures, but owners should take precaution if they are exposed to unusual cold or heat.
Maybe you walk through your friends and family’s homes admiring their raised panel doors. And you're definitely interested in achieving this look without the cost of replacing your existing, fully functional flat-panel models. It’s possible to paint doors to achieve a paneled look that doesn’t require the skills of a professional or the expense of specialized tools. Fool your friends into thinking you’ve replaced all the flat-paneled doors in your home with a few coats of expertly placed paint.
Handmade table decorations can be less expensive than what you find at the store, and as a bonus, they have your own creative stamp. You don't need to be especially artistic or skilled at crafts to make Christmas table decorations. And you might even be able to use what you have on hand. Look around your house for ideas, and you can put together some very attractive Christmas decorations in no time.
Even your outdoor planters can be decorated to spread holiday cheer around Christmastime. Decorate outdoor planters for Christmas with help from an author, magazine editor and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
Christmas bows are something you can make at home using a few very specific steps. Get directions on how to make Christmas bows with help from an author, magazine editor and lifestyle expert in this free video clip.
Weeping evergreen trees boast an uncommon curb appeal with their slightly drooping branches and bright colors. Varieties of weeping evergreens can be found in pines, cedars and spruces, according to the Home and Garden Ideas website. Whether a winter storm caused tree limb breakage or you were pruning your own weeping evergreen, tree cuttings can be watered and potted to grow into a new weeping evergreen. As with any project to root a tree limb, success can vary and takes a year or so of dedication and care.
Christmas stockings on the mantle are fun, traditional holiday decorations, but keeping the stockings in place can be tricky, especially when they are full of presents. Whether your stockings are fun or functional, you need a reliable solution to stop them falling off the mantle. Adhesive tape may not be strong enough to bear the weight of a Christmas stocking, and nails or hooks do a great job, but they leave residual holes in your mantle. Buy a set of purpose-made mantle clips to attach Christmas stockings securely and safely without causing damage to your decor.
Glass ball terrariums range from miniature terrariums inside glass Christmas balls to bubble terrariums designed to display medium-sized plants. Other options include globe-shaped glass containers filled with live plants. Hanging them in front of mirrors or near a sunny window creates the illusion of a floating garden adding charm to nearly any room. How they are hung depends on the type of glass ball terrarium you choose.
The term "evergreen" is often misleading. Trees and shrubs with needle-like leaves that don't drop in the fall are called narrow-leaved evergreens or evergreen conifers. Needle size and arrangement varies among genera and can help you identify an evergreen conifer with small needles. Most types of evergreen conifer can be pruned as bushes or left to grow into trees.
Barberry, evergreen privet and box evergreen are ideal for topiaries because they grow quickly and can withstand heavier pruning. You can form other types of evergreens into topiaries, but you may need to prune them gradually over a few growing seasons. Prune in the early spring and again toward the end of the growing season if your evergreen grows quickly. Some common topiary shapes include the spiral and the lollipop standard. A standard is a topiary with a bushy head on the top, but no branches below it.
Christmas stockings are a delight for adults and children alike. While presents heaped under the tree are a wonderful sight, a nice long stocking crammed with toys, goodies and candy is especially exciting. By making your own stockings, you create an extra-special holiday feature that adds an important touch to such an important Christmas tradition. Each stocking can be tailor-made to match a family member's personality and interests, and can become a treasured gift in and of itself.
The tradition of hanging stockings on the hearth pre-dates Clement Clarke Moore's "A Visit from St. Nicholas" (" 'Twas the Night Before Christmas"). The beloved poem made the practice synonymous with Christmas. almost two centuries after Moore wrote it, children still hang their stockings by the chimney with care. Glitter and glue can personalize the fuzzy white border of a traditional stocking. Nontoxic materials and straightforward steps make this project suitable even for young children, but it's always wise to supervise them to keep glitter on the stockings, where it belongs.
If you're new to the world of gardening, a poinsettia or gardenia plant is an easy one to start with. Both of these plants can be planted in potted soil and take little maintenance to keep up. Planting the poinsettia or gardenia flower in a pot gives you the flexibility of bringing the plant indoors so that it can keep growing all year 'round. Use these strategies to grow a lush gardenia or poinsettia for your home.
If your desire is a grand entryway for your home, consider drawing from exotic Moroccan-style decor. Moroccan decor is bold, vibrant and luxurious, adding just a bit of mystique to your house. Don't settle for your home being just a drab castle when, with a little planning and effort, you can give it the air of an opulent palace, no matter how big or small. There is no better way to welcome your guests in style.
The bungalow style house, which emerged in the early 1900s as a synthesis of several architectural movements of the time, is a one-story house with a low-pitched roof, unfinished basement, finished or renovated attic space and lots of windows. Early bungalows usually had outdoor chimneys made of brick or cobblestones. The many windows gave the homey bungalow an open air feel. The bungalow is part of the Craftsman architectural style, which emphasizes simplicity, clean lines and artisanship. The simple beauty of natural light is key to decorating the windows of a bungalow style house.
A well-designed salon display window will create a welcoming and professional impression as people pass or enter the salon. Ideally, it will also inform potential customers about your salon's products and services. By painting the name of your store on the inside of the window and setting up an attractive display on the counter inside the window, you can attract new customers and give existing customers new ideas about how your salon can help them.
Topiary is the art of training plants into dramatic or whimsical forms not normally found in the plant kingdom -- everything from giraffes and elephants to geometric and formal shapes. Some topiary is developed from vining plants such as English ivy patiently trained onto metal forms that have been stuffed with sphagnum moss. Certain evergreen shrubs and trees can successfully be sculpted into topiaries, either freehand or by pruning to a topiary form placed over the plant. Designing spiral evergreen topiary is reasonably easy even for beginning topiary artists.
Imposing, glossy evergreens in pots make a showy statement at the entrance to a home or garden area. Tall shrubs provide a vertical, yet portable, element that contrasts well with lower hedges and planting beds. Using potted evergreens along hardscape elements, such as driveways and walkways, adds permanent greenery to areas that would otherwise lack color. The choice of species is critical to the long-term survival of potted shrubs. Larger evergreens can be costly, so it is crucial to consider climate, light exposure and care before making a purchase.
Dormer windows are typically small windows located in the attic. Beadboard is a product made from wood, medium density fiberboard or plywood that contains strips of wood in a tongue and groove pattern, often used as wainscoting. Putting beadboard on the inside and outside portions of the window allows you to add a decorative touch and elegance to your dormer window. Beadboard can work to transform your easily forgotten window into a dramatic focal point.
Building a homemade miniature Christmas village is a holiday craft that the whole family can engage in with materials found around the house. Snow, trees, buildings, village squares, ponds, trains and figurines populate your miniature to make a realistic Christmas scene in a small town. Give each family member a task, create your scene, then place it by the tree or display it on the mantel before Christmas Day.
Luminaries add a festive touch to any holiday or special occasion décor. You can create your own glowing lanterns from a variety of materials – paper bags, jars, tin cans, dried gourds and water balloons. Use your homemade luminaries to line the walkway to your front door on Halloween or Christmas Eve, or incorporate them into an outdoor wedding celebration.
In a home, the den is usually a place to go for relaxation after a long day. Instead of leaving your den windows plain, decorate them to fit with the style of the rest of the room. Whether you want permanent window decorations or ones that change seasonally, you have a wide range of options.
Whatever your cultural background or traditions, the winter holidays are a joyous time that often calls for home decorating to get into the festive spirit. Lights, candles, ornaments and gifts may be part of the celebration equation, but having the fragrance of evergreens spread around fully complements the season and brings a bit of the wintry outdoors inside. Using items from your own yard or garden, or from nearby nurseries and tree stands, you can create swags or garlands to drape or hang around the house, in particular your entry door, to serve as a bright welcome.
Arched windows assist in the overall decorating of a room, because they generally look fancier and somewhat more formal than regular squared ones. Windows with curved tops are often larger than their standard counterparts and, therefore, attract more attention when someone first enters a room. Decorating a window's arch accentuates it and makes it stand out more than it otherwise would. This requires care — the arch is often too high to reach without assistance — but the results are worth the extra effort.
Crocheted Christmas stockings add the perfect homespun touch to a traditional Christmas celebration. Miniature stockings are particularly versatile; they're small enough to be used as Christmas tree ornaments, and can be strung along a mantelpiece or fastened to a garland. They also add a charming, personal touch to a gaily-wrapped holiday gift. Mini stockings are quick and easy to crochet, and they're also economical; one stocking takes only a few yards of regular, medium weight yarn.
Sheers are a type of see-through curtain that add privacy to a room without blocking the light. They allow filtered light in, and people outside can only see silhouettes of inhabitants, depending on the lighting. You can use sheers in different ways to decorate your home. Sheers add a soft, romantic touch to the home as well as functionality. Use floor-length sheers on your windows for a finished look.
Evergreen Lilacs are native to California, and just like their European cousins, offer a variety of purple flowers and foliage. The California Lilacs are as easily propagated as others, but have the advantage of having evergreen foliage. This combination of evergreen leaves and bouquets of purple flowers makes them a common choice for border hedges or as individual specimen plants. In addition, the fragrance of the California lilac is quite pleasant, and not quite as strong as the French varieties.
Impress friends, family and Santa too when you hang up homemade felt pieced stockings this year. Felt lends a charming folk art feel to craft projects. Felt is strong enough to hold a bounty of stocking stuffers, yet soft enough for even a novice craft maker to manipulate and sew. Once finished, decorate and personalize the felt stockings for each member of the family with fabric or felt cut-outs, embroidery, markers, glitter glue or fabric paints.
Capture the feel of a Victorian Christmas with lace, velvet and brocade decorations. You don't have to spend a lot of money on fabrics to give your home this lush look. Instead, raid your closet or thrift store for materials you can use. A lace camisole provides the material for a lace Christmas stocking. Add ribbons, embroidery and pearl trim for a gift for someone special or a decoration to grace your Christmas mantel.
Room symmetry is an important part of decorating your house. It provides cohesion and balance to every room. When one window is offset, the symmetry of the room is thrown off balance, making decorating the room more difficult. However, using a bit of creativity with decor grouping can help mask the asymmetry the offset window creates.
The entryway is the first glimpse visitors will receive when visiting your home, so it makes a powerful initial impression. It's also one of the most overlooked places when it comes to decorating. Even a cramped, narrow entryway can seem welcoming and open with the right decorative accents. From the color palette you choose to the furniture you use in the space, keep some ideas in mind when decorating this front entryway.
Most evergreen trees grow with a central branch called a leader. In order for a tree to retain its natural shape, it is important that the leader remain. If you must reduce the size of your evergreen by cutting the top off or if the leader has been damaged, you must re-train a new leader to take its place. This is not necessary for evergreens that do not have a central leader, such as yew, Thuja or juniper.
Dark paneled dens can create the perfect atmosphere for traditional libraries, masculine man-caves or a modern room with a twist. Decorate the den around the dark panel walls to create a space that’s rich and warm, with strong, masculine colors if the den will serve as a man’s study, TV room or game room. Alternatively, soft, neutral colors, such as white or cream, can lighten the mood while retaining some of the richness the dark paneling has to offer.
Hanging your Christmas stockings during the holidays represents one of the seasonal markers that signal St. Nick will soon arrive. However, if your home doesn't have a mantle, putting up your stockings can be tricky. However, you can overcome this holiday challenge by using other methods to hang them up. Best of all, these solutions allow you to hang your holiday stockings anywhere you'd like, including places like the foyer or on the wall near your window seat.
Wreaths are commonly displayed during the Christmas season. Often these wreaths are made from the twigs and leaves of an evergreen tree. Other decorations are added, such as bows, lights, pinecones, garlands and plastic figurines. Although evergreen wreaths are all-natural, there are some steps you need to take before disposing of them once the Christmas season has come to an end.
It is a common practice to associate evergreens with high mountain ranges that experience long stretches of freezing temperatures. Unfortunately, many varieties of shrubs that keep their color throughout the year are susceptible to frost damage. Covering tender specimens of shrubs, including both evergreen and deciduous varieties, can help them survive extreme cold snaps.
Pruning homegrown trees is important for many different reasons, including disease prevention, increased fruit yield for fruit-bearing trees and the long-term health of the tree. But sometimes pruning is aesthetic. For example, you can trim an evergreen tree into a topiary in a few simple steps.
Unlike traditional windows, casement windows have their hinges on the side. Casement windows also use a handle or crank to open and close. That difference in design can reduce the number of decorating options you have available, since traditional curtains and blinds designed for traditional windows will not work on the casement variety.
When left undecorated, a high entryway can seem like an overwhelming and unwelcoming place. But with decorative elements in place, in proportion with its height, the space can be inviting and welcoming to all who enter. Even with a very high entryway, it is still important to address the functional issues that any size entryway has. Make the most of the architectural features that a high entryway has to offer and make it a conversation piece for your home.
Egress windows provide an important safety feature in your home by allowing inhabitants to leave through the basement in case of an emergency. They are sometimes required for your home to be up to code. While it's important to keep the window free from any obstructions to avoid inhibiting escape, an egress window can also serve a decorative purpose with the addition of color, surrounding building materials and decorative images.
The poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima), a common sight on mantles and dining room tables during the Christmas season, was brought to the United States from Mexico in the 1820's by U.S. Ambassador Joel Roberts Poinsett. It blooms for several weeks and will bloom again if you cut it back just below its bright red modified leaves or bracts. Some time in March, the bracts shrivel and fall off, and you should see new shoots developing below them. Cutting the plant back will encourage more new shoots to grow from the leaf axils located on the old growth.
