Choosing The Right Home Builder

There are several benefits to purchasing a pre-construction home. Brand-new homes do not come with repair costs since nothing in the home has ever been used and the structure has not been subject to the elements.

When you have a new home built, you have the opportunity to choose the look and feel of your home, and personalize it to suit your tastes. Some home builders, especially in hurricane prone areas like Florida, are now building homes above hurricane code with extensive safety measures to protect the homeowner in the face of severe weather.

But not all home builders specialize in high quality homes, or offer buyers the chance to personalize their home. That is why choosing the correct home builder is such an integral part of a positive home buying experience

A tale of two builders: tract homes vs. custom homes

There are two very different types of home builders offering their services today. The first, and often cheapest, option is a tract home builder. These builders offer newly constructed homes at the lowest prices, and can be an affordable option for the buyer on a tight budget. Tract homes are not necessarily bad homes, but the materials used to build them are often of much lower quality than materials used by custom home builders.

Tract home builders can offer lower prices because they purchase materials in mass quantity. Because of this mass purchasing policy, they are not able to offer buyers decor options or choices in color scheme, flooring, etc. Tract Homes are often referred to as “cookie-cutter” homes because they all look exactly the same. Tract homes are very seldom built above code, and do not usually include options such as safety glass, additional roof truss straps, or solid, poured concrete construction.

You get what you pay for

Custom homes often come with a higher price tag, but you can definitely see where the extra money goes. High-quality materials, custom decor options, and additional safety measures are just a few of the additional features custom home builders offer. Homes built by custom builders are usually much more luxurious in scale, and often include vaulted ceilings and bright, airy floor plan choices. Top of the line paint, appliances, flooring and fixtures may also be offered.

But there are also different levels of custom home builders, especially when it comes to hurricane safety. In states where hurricanes are a fact of life during the summer months, choosing a high-quality home builder is especially important.

Above code construction

One state where additional hurricane protection is especially important is Florida. In 2004, Florida suffered a series of direct hurricane strikes to both coasts. Even inland areas were not immune to the powerful storms, and homes throughout Florida suffered severe damage. Florida was also subject to extensive building code reform after the devastation Hurricane Andrew left behind in 1992.

Despite extensive reform in South Florida, only a handful of additional Florida counties have adopted the strict standards that are currently in place in Dade county (areas of which were devastated by Hurricane Andrew). In fact, the current building code in most counties only requires that new homes be built to withstand a Category 2 hurricane.

That is why a handful of builders in Florida have begun giving their customers an added level of protection. Above code construction is a term used by these builders to convey that their home construction standards exceed what is required by Florida building code. Some of these homes are built to withstand winds in excess of 140 mph, and offer superior protection for homeowners.

It’s all in the details

After deciding which type of home you are looking to have built (tract or custom, standard or above-code), there are a few more criteria you can use to narrow down your list of choices. First, select your top three neighborhood choices and thoroughly explore the housing market in each of these areas. Make a list of builders who have lots available in your target areas.

Personally visit each builder on your list, as you can get a good feel for the company by visiting their sales offices. Take note of your experience with each company. Is their office staff friendly and helpful? Do they have model homes to show? Do they offer a home warranty? What about builder financing? Do they thoroughly review the floor plans, custom features, and available decor options? Trust your instincts and go with the home builder you are most comfortable working with, and who you feel shares your vision of the ideal home.

anonymous
http://www.articlesbase.com/non-fiction-articles/choosing-the-right-home-builder-132945.html

Home Furnishing for New or Old

It doesn\’t matter whether your home furnishings decor goal is to decorate a new home or to spruce up an old one – you\’ll need a plan either way. People who do not include a plan will run into more trouble than those who do. Determining the color scheme and picking the pieces of furniture are two key ingredients to proper planning.

If the only part of your decorating that is going to change is the color scheme, then you should pick a color that matches the current home furnishings decor. While you may discover the color you think you want right away, do not settle for that color alone. Instead, pick several swatches and take them home. It is to your benefit to purchase sample jars of paint as well in order to better see how the color would look once it\’s actually on your wall. Different times of day will cause different lighting affects on your paint, so you should leave the paint on for at least a couple of days to see how it looks under different parts of the day.

There\’s an easy rule of thumb to remember when picking out your home furnishings decor and that is to be practical. You\’ll always want to buy furniture that matches each room\’s individual needs. In practice, your family\’s needs for the family room are likely to be quite different from that of the formal living room. An important pre-shopping tip is to measure every dimension at least twice and sketch a diagram that shows the locations of the room\’s windows and doors. Always design the rest of the room then pick your furnishings so that you will be assured to have furniture that actually fits into the room.

Even the best planners can have trouble trying to come up with a place to begin their project. It can often be difficult to determine what home furnishings decor you want for your home. Frequently, people skip the goal setting part of choosing their decorating, and they end up with items that look great in a magazine but look bad in their home. Budget planning should be your key first step. This will allow you to stay within your budget as you are picking decorating ideas.

One of the easiest and fastest places to come up with ways to save money and come up with ideas is the internet. As online merchants frequently offer discounts, they are great places to shop. Searching the internet is a way that many people find unique and specific items that they otherwise could not have.

David Barnard
http://www.articlesbase.com/gardening-articles/home-furnishing-for-new-or-old-724589.html

Planning of Home Interior Decorating Project

All of us love to surround our world with things, which are both beautiful as well as exotic. Our homes are one of the most intrinsic parts of the world around us. Therefore, most of us enjoy making our Homes more than a mere structure made up of four walls and a roof.

Home decor styles range from a number of themes, designs, and materials. While planning your home decor project, you can either opt for the theme being implemented throughout the house or use one specific theme for a specific room. For example, a House was once designed in such a way that each room was decorated with the styles of the different countries the home owner had visited. All rooms included authentic art and furniture from each visited country.

An assessment of your needs is preferrable before embarking on the process of a new home interior decorating project. The next point to keep in mind would obviously be taste such as personal likings and dislikings. You can then choose from several themes that can stretch from Victorian to more contemporary themes, which are more suited to the modern and urban lifestyle. One of the modern themes including home decor ideas that are really catching up is the use of bamboo. Eco-friendly and beautiful, bamboo has a number of advantages that account for its popularity as a first choice for home interior decoration. Transform your home to a tropical paradise of peace and harmony with the use of bamboo. Another benefit of using bamboo is the fact that the material is famous for its sheer versatility. You can incorporate it into almost anything beginning with floorings to even towels! The main point to remember when using bamboo for decorating your home interior is the fact that the glue that is used for sealing the sheets into a pattern should be non-toxic glue. This is especially important when bamboo flooring is glued with inexpensive or low quality glue. The flooring can cause the floors to dent and also cause them to give out a harmful gas called Formaldehyde.

Curtains can also match with the flooring with convenience as bamboo curtains can be easily purchased all over the world. It is best to keep the interior spaces clutter-free while using bamboo flooring, as this would go a long way in enhancing the ambience. The color that this theme would necessarily involve would be slightly muted. Furthermore, this color is quite fashionable in this decade. In case you want to add color to the space, cushions and rugs make make nice floor decor additions. To add a bit of freshness to the room, accentuate the muted sophistication of the theme with a couple of bright hibiscus flowers and perhaps a well chosen painting with a color selection that matches the home decor accessories.

Julien Raynal
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-and-family-articles/planning-of-home-interior-decorating-project-90019.html

Tips on Choosing Your Decor

If people want something different for their home, they exert extra effort just to get that décor that they want. Unique pieces are important to people because they want their abode to stand out. However, it does not necessarily mean that being peculiar has to be bizarre. For example, if people love music, they try to incorporate this in almost every aspect of the home. They would buy for musical metal wall décor; music inspired designed rugs and the likes.

However, there are a few tips on how to choose your décor. First thing, you need to consider here is the price of the item. Of course, you have to look at the price tag always. If you think, you can afford it and do not want to browse the other shelves, and then buy it. Nevertheless, if you feel like you need more options, you can always go back to the first item afterward. There are so many décor to choose from and it is impossible that you will not find something affordable and unique.

You can even mix and match items that do not usually go together. For example, you can put musical metal wall décor together with an abstract painting. You can even put printed décor side by side and try to have a colorful and creative atmosphere. Nevertheless, it is still better if you know when to stop adding. They say that less is more. Keep everything in order or at a minimum so that your guests will not feel that you overdid the House decorating. You might want to read magazines and watch television programs so that you can improvise some of their décor.

Another tip is to make sure that the décor you plan to buy is in good condition. You have to inspect the item thoroughly because there might be flaws or defects in it. The difficult thing here is when you reach home and then look at the item for the second time; you will see that it is not perfect. Some stores allow you to return or exchange the item within a period so make sure you have it replaced before you run out of time.

Whatever décor you desire, whether it is musical metal wall décor or just a simple one, just try to look for the one you need. There is nothing wrong if you take your time finding other options. It is only natural that people do not make their choices hurriedly because they might make the wrong one. Try to remember what you want and how much your budget is so that you have an idea what to buy. Spending more than what your limit is might get you into trouble. However, it is also okay to do this sometimes especially if you do not do this often. Have fun buying and searching for your home décor. It is not often that you get the chance to get chill, enjoy and relax out of work and home.

Alyssa Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/tips-on-choosing-your-decor-707340.html

Interior Design Style and Colour Use for the Home Office

There are two ways that you can go about selecting the general decor of your home office: either follow the style that prevails in the rest of your home, or treat your office as an individual space. Choosing which way to go is a simple task requiring answers to only a few questions.

> Has your home been decorated in one style that is visible throughout?

> Is your office easily visible from other rooms/areas of your home?

> Does your work suggest a style of its own?

Based on the questions above, here are a few simple ways to help you easily achieve a pleasing decor in your home office.

If you are going to treat your office as a part of your home, using the same decor and style, your job is already half done. But remember, you don’t have to use the exact colour scheme or mood. You can modify what you see outside your office to blend smoothly. For instance, you can reverse the main and accent colours; you can use the same colours but in different proportions; or a different level of formality. Because you are decorating an office, it is likely that you are going to want to treat the style differently than how it appears in other areas of your home, and this is normal. Don’t be afraid to create a variation in the atmosphere — it is only the general style you are aiming to respect.

For a home office that is open within an area of your home, you are going to have to be a little more cautious. In this case, you must respect the style seen around your office, but at the same time you should definitely aim to create a sense of separation between your work space and living space. Visual separation does not mean building a wall; it means creating a new environment within the existing one. Some ways of creating visual separation include changes in ceiling height and/or floor level (a step up or down); a room divider placed to look decorative rather than confining; colour changes such as reversing the main and accent paint colours used on the walls; and furniture placement.

Placing furniture in a way that the layout separates space is fairly simple, but don’t forget to play with your ideas on graph paper first or else you may find yourself still rearranging while you should already be at your desk. Consider using a large bookshelf or storage cabinet as a room divider — the back of it can be decorated with fabric, paint, a collage… or place furniture back-to-back to create the sense of two separate zones. Keep in mind while you are working on the layout that you don’t want to feel that your office is, for instance, in the back of your basement — it is at the back of the basement. Just as words can be played with, so can space.

A home office that is to receive a style of its own is a fun thing to work out. You should aim to have a bit of who you are visible in the decor, while creating a visual sense of what you do. This is not a cubicle in a large office complex — this is your office. If you have a love of bold patterns, classic cars, angels… incorporate them into the decor even if they have nothing to do with what you will be doing in your office. At the same time, your office should say more about whay you do that “I work at a desk.” What do you do at that desk? If you are in the computer business, have things around that suggest that, like an enlarged and framed comic strip that has something to do with computers. If your office is actually more of a workshop and you do clothing alterations, incorporate your supplies into your decor: display spools of thread in a rainbow-like pattern, hand a rod a few inches from a wall and drape some fabrics over it for an ever-changing backdrop. If you work in the travel industry, have a model plane suspended, and display items or pictures symbolic of some of your favorite destinations; if it won’t get in your way, have a beach ball in your office, or make a “sandbox” to hang on the wall by gluing sand to the back of a shadow box and gluing small shells onto the sand.

When choosing the colours for your office, there are a few basic points to consider. Yellows, reds, and other very warm colours in large quantities can cause you to feel thirsty. Blue is very relaxing, but be careful not to choose a bland grey-blue that can actually lead to feeling tired or restless. The best way to go about selecting the colours for your office is to choose three colours; use one as a main colour (for instance on the walls), another as the main accent colour (visible in a pattern on a rug, drapes, desk accessories…), and the third as an accent colour appearing only in splashes here and there (such as flowers in a vase, a couple of photo frames…). At this point your colour scheme is set, and all you have to do is keep in mind some basic points of colour psychology. A dark ceiling will feel very low; mirrors and reflective materials make a space feel larger; too many colours, especially bold ones, can cause a feeling of clutter even if there is none.

A final point on the topic of colour and style: materials such as woods, stone, and metal can be incorporated into any colour scheme — although they may affect the style, they will not clash. A natural pine desk will certainly give a different look than a mahogany one, but either will match any colour scheme; ditto for stainless steel and brass, and marble and concrete.

Look for the final article from this 4-part series on home offices: Lighting and Window Treatments for the Home Office.

Have a Luxurious Home on a Tight Budget

Luxurious homes, inevitably, evoke one word from every aspirant of a luxurious home. And that is – ‘expensive’. Normally, luxury Homes are viewed from the amount of money invested in furnishing these homes. We tend to believe that royalty of luxurious homes come from money. But, very conveniently, forget that some astute thinking and of course, little money can transform our homes into a royal castle. In fact, if we trace the journey of some of the luxury furniture, we can easily find out that the things that were commonplace in ancient homes have been rendered luxurious in the form of antiques. So, present day’s luxury is yesterday’s normalcy. So, why not try to make it a present day’s normalcy?

The first thing to take care of is to avoid buying fakes. If antiques are your choice to bring in luxury to your home, never settle for cheap furniture or look-alikes. For instance, an exclusive Amish made furniture could be your ideal choice but never get duped by unscrupulous dealers, who make a quick buck out of the ignorant buyers. Always opt for a reputed dealer of Amish furniture who provides adequate guarantees and warranties on your purchase. Similarly, if dealing with Antique furniture dealers, always choose the one who has a good reputation both online as well as offline.

The next thing to plan is the art works. While expensive paintings by renowned painters may be out of your budget range, you certainly need not lose heart. A beautiful oil painting or water-colored painting can be an impressive alternative. The artwork need not be a “branded” one. The important things are that the painting should (a) gel with the overall scheme of the room; and (b) not look like a poor replica of some original artwork. As long as these two conditions are met, the “brand” won’t matter much.

Flooring comes next. A decent priced wool carpet or stone tiles can provide the look and feel of luxury to your home. A carefully crafted handmade carpet is any day better than artificially created custom-made flooring.

You must be extra careful while spending on furniture requirements. One thing about luxury furniture is that it acts like a seductive temptress. You have to be extra careful to resist the temptation of spending too much on luxury furniture items. A better option is to look for the reproduction pieces manufactured by furniture makers, like Baker Furniture or Century Furniture. Kitchen with granite finish can be inexpensively royal.

Affordable luxuries also come at a price but this should not daunt you, as the satisfaction of having a luxurious home is much more valuable than affordable luxuries. Apart from buying new items, you can also mould your existing furniture into a luxurious outlook. Silk pillows and tapestry finish are good options for affordable luxury. Decorative and inexpensive plants could lend the oomph factor in the drawing room. And most importantly, never clutter your home with excessive furniture. Always allow some breathing space in your rooms.

Smith & Chen
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-business-articles/interior-design-style-and-colour-use-for-the-home-office-140219.html

Popular Decor Designs

In everything, people have their favorite designs. It does not matter if it is a classic or not. The main thing here is that it has become very popular that it has become a mainstay in almost every home. Metal décor is something slowly gaining popularity because you can incorporate this in an antique home or a modern one. You just have to know where to put your items and try to make things work for your House.

One of the common décor designs is those that have plain colors. People want to have sort of like a blank canvass to work with and then make the changes from there. They know that they can have fun with more colors. They can just throw in more colored pillows or sheets to make the furniture and the home is more alive. There is nothing better than to see your abode be a reflection of you and your persona overall. You might even ask some of your friends or relatives to throw in some ideas on how to make your home a better place to live in.

Metal décor on the stairs or on the bare walls will surely liven up whoever passes that area. Keeping or making someone happy is a tough job. You might not realize this that if you just have the right decorations in your home, they can do that for you. Figurines are something you would usually see in a home. You can put these little things in almost any part of the home. Even some shops enable you to have a customized figurine of yourself in a superhero costume. This is surely something you want to have in your home.

Abstract designs for your décor are definitely a favorite of homeowners. They know that they can use this as a focal point to their home and draw energy and other designs from it. If they get so inspired with the design that they have, they can even buy some accessories to harmonize the rest of the home with it. Updating the look of your home is something you need to do often. Rearranging some of the furniture can open up the place a little bit and gives you the opportunity to make the home more you.

If you know how to make things work for your home, metal décor will make it even better. Whatever style you have for your home, such décor will make the abode different from the others. Everyone has his or her own personal touch. Even though households have the same items for decorations, they will still be unique from each one depending on how and where you place it. Before buying the item, people already know where they want the décor to be. They rather have this picture in their heads with the item so that they can do some changes at home when they get back. Decorations surely can make a home inviting and interesting. Being creative with the things that they have makes the home have the aura and personality of the homeowner.

Alyssa Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/popular-decor-designs-707348.html

3 Retro Lamps That Will Add Pizzazz To Your Home Decor

It seems that history always repeats itself, whether in a family, politics or even style and fashion. Slowly the clothing styles of the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s and even (oh, no) the 80’s have doubled back and been passed off as the hottest new fashions. This is equally true for interior design. It seems that people get tired of looking at the new designs, which have become old, and they want something new…which is really just more of the old. It’s a vicious cycle.

Retro furniture, lamps and other interior decorating favorites may be gone, but never forgotten. It doesn’t take very many tries to find a website or retailer that specializes in retro furniture. Retro lamps are particularly fun because of the bright colors and crazy shapes they can be. Especially in the 1960’s and 70’s, anything could be fashionable, and just about everything was. Colors we wouldn’t dream of using in our Homes today were splashed all over the walls and the carpet looked like it needed to be mowed. But that was the style, and it’s not hard to find again.

The 1960’s is when the interior design world first got a glimpse at the cone lamp. This retro lamp sported three or more adjustable cone shaped lights that rested on three separate arms protruding from the base of the lamp. The arms could be bent and turned in any direction to point light at anywhere you wanted it to go. This style has hung on throughout the years if for nothing else but its ingenious design. Though the idea is still used today, the original lamp gets a spot in the retro hall of fame, especially if you can find it in avocado green.

Another fabulously retro lamp that we can thank the 1970’s for is the Modern Arco Lamp. Why in the world would you want to have a perfectly straight lamp on the left side of your chair for reading when you can have this retro lamp sitting on your right and arcing over your head to end up on your left side? Any retro decorated room is incomplete without one of these monsters; just make sure you have the room for a retro lamp as big as this.

Yet another retro lamp that has actually had a huge impact on today’s lamp styles is the torch floor lamp from the 1950’s. Though there were torchiere lamps before that time, this design modernized it into a style that is still quite popular. Now you can find torchiere lamps with a variety of energy saving bulbs from compact fluorescent to halogen. It’s really not a retro lamp, but deserves to be recognized for its pioneering efforts toward today’s interior decorating.

If you’re looking to use retro lamps in your design scheme, there are more than enough out there to choose from, and most are being produced today so you don’t have to spend a killing at an antique store. Just do yourself a favor and stay away from lava lamps. There is retro, and just plain ugly, you decide.

Mark(at)modernlampsguide.com

Mark Clifton
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/3-retro-lamps-that-will-add-pizzazz-to-your-home-decor-262778.html

Concrete Countertops – Setting A New Trend In Home Decor

Unless you have seen a concrete countertop, you might think it is an ugly slab of material that is porous and gray. But concrete countertops are as versatile and as colorful as their stone counterparts and more affordable and nothing like concrete blocks. In fact, concrete countertops can look so similar to their stone counterparts that some will not be able to tell the difference.

Concrete countertops are making a big splash in home decor because of the trend toward a more natural, stone appearance of countertops in kitchens and bathrooms. Many who cannot afford the more expensive granite or marble are moving toward concrete countertops.

You can find concrete countertops in almost as many colors as laminate countertops. Hues of blue, red and green along with the natural stone colors are available. Concrete countertops can be designed to match any kitchen or bathroom decor. Most concrete countertops are custom made, so you can put as much of your personality in it as you like regarding color, shape and design. Ask your contractor for samples of his work and don’t be afraid to ask for something unique!

Many contractors will pre-cast concrete countertops at a shop. This allows them to use special tables and allows them to seal the concrete countertops in the shop. If a kitchen or bathroom has a peculiar shape or design, a contractor may chose to build the concrete countertops at the home to adapt to the edges and corners of the surface.

Concrete countertops must be sealed. This is so that the countertop will be stain-resistant. You will need to wax the concrete countertop every few months so the countertop can retain its shiny, new look. Be sure to read your owner’s manual for instructions.

Concrete countertops are much stronger than any natural surface such as granite or marble. They are resistant to heat and scratches, meaning you don’t have to worry if you accidentally set a hot pot or pan on the countertop. But if you want to cut vegetables, you will need to use a cutting board since cutting a concrete countertop will leave a mark. Newly installed concrete countertops can become warped if the temperature changes suddenly. Ask you contractor how to prevent this if you live in an area where temperatures are sometimes extreme.

Like most countertops, you need to avoid abrasive products when cleaning your concrete countertops. Make sure you wipe away all spills immediately. A mild soap should keep the concrete countertops looking like new. And as mentioned earlier, waxing is required every few months. Concrete countertops need to be resealed every few years. Check you owner’s manual for exact specifications.

Concrete countertops range in price from $55 to $125 per square foot, since most of them are custom-made. You can find a qualified contractor in the yellow pages that will make and install your concrete countertops. Ask him to see a sample of his work before agreeing to sign a contract to install your concrete countertops.

Samantha Davis
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/concrete-countertops-setting-a-new-trend-in-home-decor-121605.html

Fossils – Hot Trends In Home Decor

There is a growing trend in interior decorating. Fossils are showing up in homes and offices in the U.S. and around the world. Large display fossil pieces, tile inlays, and table ware are just a few ways that fossils are being used in home decorating.

At the recent Denver Fossil, Gem, and Mineral Show I couldn’t help but listen with wonder as dealer after dealer reported the furious buying of large fossil specimens for Japanese Homes and businesses. It seems that the Japanese are not only fascinated with these ancient relics, they want them for art pieces.

One dealer reported that he had received an amazing figure for a reconstructed fish from the Green River Formation near Kemmerer, Wyoming. The specimen had been found in a quarry, prepared by a second party, purveyed by a third and will eventually be delivered to its new Japanese home. A great deal for all parties!

Artists, too, are benefiting from the Japanese excitement over fossils. An artist who regularly uses ammonites and orthoceras in her objects d’arte creations recently told us she had been approached by a Japanese dealer who was negotiating to buy 50 of her art pieces.

Fossil Table Ware
Americans are putting another spin on fossil art. Besides the many wonderful display items that come from Morocco, there are plates and serving bowls that will be decorating many dinner tables throughout the United States. These unique pieces add a warm earthiness to the meal; and their colors are as yummy as the culinary dishes they serve up!

Large Display Pieces
Continue this earthy motif to the living room. There you’ll find coffee and end tables carved and polished from the black and white, orthoceras-filled matrix that comes from Moroccan deserts. Plaques of specimens come in all sizes and include specimens ranging from ancient trilobites and brittlestars to polished ammonites and orthoceras. Prices have a wide range, too, so watch out! If you take the time to shop around, you can find some great deals!

Fossil Counter Tops, And Fossil Tiles
Recently a new craze in “permanent decorating” is also making the scene in the U.S. Concrete kitchen counters are known for their easy durability and beauty. But inlay them with fossil ammonites and you have a counter that is out of this world beautiful AND one-of-a-kind! Bathroom tiles set with orthoceras create a memory of the watery environment these ancient creatures called home.

If you are a fossil-lover and just can’t find one more empty space to add to your collection, think about these new alternatives for home d

Claudia Mann
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/fossils-hot-trends-in-home-decor-80650.html

Make Your Guests Feel At Home With Tuscan Decor

Tuscan style décor can really come in useful in your guest room. This is because it helps the guests to settle in and enjoy their surroundings too.

Article

You may not have guests over to stay very often, but when you do wouldn’t it be nice to make them feel exceptionally welcome? Well with a Tuscan decor you can and it could be fun setting up the room too.

The Secret to a Great Tuscan Setting

In order to create a Tuscan setting you will find that no matter what your budget, it is achievable. You really do not have to make big changes; it could be something simple from changing the color of the walls and adding a few simple ornaments. You could even get away with just adding Italian themed bed covers. Whatever your budget you can create a Tuscan style décor and no matter how simple the changes are, they will still make your guests feel really welcome.

The lighting in the room can make a difference when you are creating a Tuscan theme and so you will need to choose the right light fitting in order to stay with the theme. Wrought iron is a great choice as it creates an intimate and elegant setting which your guests will really appreciate. Rustic ceiling features are also a really choice and wall sconces should also be looked into. Always avoid modern and overly shiny lighting as this will not give you the look that you are after.

Another aspect of Tuscan décor which some people do not take into account is the flooring. If you have the money then completely changing the flooring is the best option as then you can have marble tiles which will really set the scene. However if you simply do not have the means or the funds to do that then just changing the carpet or placing an area rug down will also look really good.

If you want to complete the look then it is the smaller details you need to pay attention to. Decorative things such as bedding, curtains and pictures can all really help to perfect the look. The accessories are by far the cheapest part of the Tuscan décor but they are also the ones which make the biggest difference. By using silk flowers and green indoor plants, you will keep the natural feel in the room and by using warm reds on the walls you will keep the intimate and homely feeling too.

Overall creating a Tuscan setting in your guest room is not overly difficult. You can even purchase window treatments which help you to give a Tuscan feel to the whole room. You do not have to spend a lot to get the desired look that you are after and as long as you stick to the basic color scheme, your guests will really feel at home in a Tuscan style bedroom.

Adam Peters
http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/make-your-guests-feel-at-home-with-tuscan-decor-163636.html