I too had forgotten the foyer but was reminded this week by a great article about Decorating Your Foyer which explains the essentials of what is needed.  I urge you to go and read it yourself but the author clearly points out “it’s important to have a foyer that is welcoming and inviting”.

She suggest you look at your foyers lighting and flooring as the two first things to deal with and then add accessories to make it homely.

Idea #1 Wall Adornment:
Make a quaint display for your living room by framing pieces of coordinating fabric. Cut the fabric swatches all the same size and run them like a border or use different sizes and display them as a focal point. The effect is just beautiful as it can be done for any room with any decor.

Another framing idea is to use all those artistic greeting cards you collect and display them in beautiful, ornate picture frames. Group the frames on a wall, shelf, headboard or table together, for and enchanting display.

More enchanting cottage style decorating hints here soon.

“The starting point with this project was a personal study about form & time. I put together more than 150 individual clockworks and made them work together to become one clock. I show the progress of time by letting the numbers be written in words by the clockworks.”

When it is 4 o’clock the word ‘four’ is clearly written as per the image above and as we move closer to five o’clock the word ‘four’ becomes more scrambled and the word ‘five’ more clear.

This always seems to be the most difficult question and yet it need not be so difficult. Choosing a paint color should not be so stressful.

Consider what is your favorite color; and what other shades of that could be used. Do you already have gorgeous curtains or a favorite rug - then find a color that hight lights them don’t choose a color that overpowers them.

So you now have a few choices. Get some sample pots - those little color strips are hopeless - and the wall near your drapes. Leave the room while they dry. Then enter the room - which one appeals straight away, but does it highlight or distract from your drapes? Don’t make a decision straight away - look at the colors in other lights - which one looks good at night. Live with the colors for a few days and see if you get bored of one.

After a few days you will have your perfect wall color.

Natural rugs, surprisingly enough, work best within an area that displays an abundance of natural things, they make ideal additions to a conservatory or summer house, and there is probably no better alternative in these types of location than a high quality natural rug. The reason for this is quite simple to explain.

Any area which contains plants, stone and any other type of natural feature, will not display a standard tonal range within its color scheme. When we paint a room, it can be blue, and we can match that blue with other colors, in a natural room, what appears to be brown, green or yellow, is actually a profusion of other colors and hues, which when mixed together give the impression of a primary color. Adding a dyed rug to such a chaotic mix of colors will create unease, it may not be instantly obvious, but it will be in conflict with the way the rest of the room is projecting color.

By using a natural rug, like a jute area rug, we are mimicking the way in which the natural decor of the room is colored, although the hue of a rug may be said to be brown, it will actually be a mixture of other colors, which look brown to the eye, in exactly the same way the rest of the natural contents of the room are colored.

A second application for a natural rug is within a space that has a lot of wood, brick or stonework, again this is because these types of materials may look as if they are one solid color, but they are again made up of a cacophony of mixed hues. A natural area rug fits well in this situation, as it displays the same coloring attributes as the rest of the room.

Natural rugs can also find application in both the kitchen and bathroom areas of a home, although this is problematic due to the fact the natural fibers they are made from, will not stand up to water damage particularly well over a long period of time, some will rot, almost all will stain and they are very hard items to clean. They are also usually of a fairly hard weave, which means they will slip when placed upon a smooth floor.

Natural rugs have a charm and character all of their own, and when used in the right manner, can become a delightful feature of decor. So next time you want to buy a rug consider one of the natural ones there are heaps to choose from – I am particularly fond of bamboo area rugs.

Here are a few suggestions to help make your home décor journey a more pleasant and enjoyable one:

Lifestyle Matters
The first thing you need to do is choose your kitchen décor styles according to your lifestyle. Some factors are crucial to any home décor plans and overlooking them could very well be a nightmare indeed! So you have kids or do you intend having kids in the near future? Do you have pets? Do you entertain a lot and if you do, is it mainly formal, corporate entertaining or just get-togethers with family and friends? What are your personal style preferences?

Once you have done that the rest will come easier to you. Choose to your style and not someone else’s; remember that it is you after all who has to live in the house. You have to feel comfortable in your own home and that is why you should always decorate to your own tastes and styles.

Some of the choices of kitchen décor styles to opt for include:

Traditional Country Style Kitchen
You could opt for a traditional country style kitchen. The kitchens of yesteryear filled with rooster décor, teapots, bakers rack and many other vintage collectibles. Using a country home décor within your kitchen will make it feel warm and inviting; a great place to spend time with the family. Lots of lovely extras such as an old wooden clock that depicts a picture of the country; enamel kitchenware, checked curtains on your windows and many other lovely country features give your kitchen a charming country style look.

French Style Kitchen
How about a French style kitchen with wrought iron wine racks filled with your favorite tipples, beautiful candles adorning the windowsills and some beautiful, delicate plants to add a little extra warmth. You could add French country posters to your wall hung in frames or you could have a wrought iron pot rack in the middle of the kitchen to really give it that French country style.

Shabby chic is making its way back into our home décor ideas and with good reason too. A distressed look to your furniture and collectibles is a great way to acquire a the shaggy look in your home. Remember though they have to look distressed not on their last legs! Your home will feel comfortable, warm and extremely inviting when you opt for shabby chic home décor! An antique chandelier always looks great in a shabby chic home décor plan as does a romantic plant stand or pot full of trailing and hanging plants.

There are many options available to the decorator wanting to update or go back in time with their home décor ideas. The best thing to do is to pick up a magazine detailing other people’s homes. You should find lots of inspiration regarding your home. And another source is this great article on How to Complete Your Home With An Area Rug.