Articles by Candi Randolph on ArticleSnatch.com

Five Steps to Decorate A Master Bedroom

Sun, 19 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

How do you go about decorating a master bedroom? It is not difficult if you know the key decisions that need to be made, and they are all equally important in determining your master bedroom's design and decor. First, determine how your furniture is going to be placed in the master bedroom. Is a sitting area a possibility in the space? What size bed do you have, or plan to have, and will it fit comfortably into the room? I have worked with clients who want to increase the size of their bed, but it doesn't fit well in their room. You want to have about two feet minimum on either side of the bed for easy access. Determining the focal point of the room is key in decorating a master bedroom as well as other rooms. When you walk into the space where are your eyes drawn? It might be a beautiful view out a window or door wall, possibly the largest wall in the room, or it could be a lovely fireplace. Whatever the case, place the bed so that it is on the focal point wall or facing the focal point whenever possible. **End Summary** Topics: Decorating a master bedroom]]> decorating ideas for master bedroom]]> bedroom interior design ideas]]> bedroom makeovers]]> bedroom decor ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a guide to simple home decorating ideas. For more information please visit her website at http://www.Great-Home-Decorating.com

Bathroom Ideas, Including Bathroom Design Ideas for Beautiful Bathrooms

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Here are the best bathroom decoration ideas for your bathroom makeover project! Decorating bathrooms has never been easier, read on to find out how. First, be sure to determine your overall budget and the scope of the project before doing anything else. This will eliminate additional stress and frustration as your bathroom makeover project is underway. Once you have determined your overall project and budget, it is time to start formulating your color and style palette, utilizing the bathroom decorating ideas and plans you may have been thinking about. Is there a defined decorating style in the rest of your home that will be carried through to the bathroom decorating project? It's a good idea to be consistent with the style you have set for other areas of your home, although in a bathroom you can 'go down a different road' as long as the basic design elements are kept consistent. The same question applies to the color palette. Have you established a color palette of three to five colors in your home? If you have, select at least two of those colors, whether primary or secondary, to use in your bathroom decorating project. **End Summary** Topics: bathroom decoration ideas]]> bathroom decorating]]> bathroom redecorating]]> bathroom makeover]]> decorating bathrooms]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decorating ideas and interior design tips. Please visit Great Home Decorating for home decor advice, tips, articles and help for all styles and budgets.

Home Decorating Ideas - Apartment Decor Tips

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Are you moving into an apartment and aren't sure how to go about decorating? It's not difficult if you know what questions to ask and the important decisions that need to be made First, find out from your landlord if the walls can be painted, and if you need to obtain permission for the colors selected. Then, make sure you can hang artwork, etc. on the walls - most of the time this is not a problem. Your landlord may state that you must return the apartment to the original state when you leave. Just keep that in mind and enjoy decorating the apartment! Before you start your apartment decorating, assess what you will be bringing into this residence. Some folks will have an abundance of furniture and others may be starting with no furniture at all. Your goal with furnishings is to have enough in the rooms that you will spend time in, to be comfortable and to express your unique lifestyle. If you don't have much furniture, don't worry about furnishing rooms that you may not use. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> apartment decorating]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the owner of Simply Designed located in Fort Myers, FL, and author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decorating ideas and interior design tips. Please visit Great Home Decorating for home decor advice, tips, articles and help for all styles and budgets.

Home Decorating Ideas - Country Style Then and Now

Sun, 21 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

What do you enjoy most about Country Home Decorating? For some it is the casual, colorful, nic-nac haven of the 1980's...I remember that time, do you? Other country home decorating ideas of the past included ruffles, painted wood plaques on the walls, wreaths made of natural materials, braided area rugs, pine furniture, bunnies and duckies (with clothes on) in the front yard...it was and still can be, a comfortable, cozy and homey type of decor. At that time it was THE look in my midwest neighborhood! Twenty five years later, Country home decor is still a comfortable and sought after look, although some of the elements have undergone a 21st century transformation. In this fresher, updated look, the wall plaques and ruffled plaids may no longer be present, but the overall look is still casual, informal and inviting. Antique pieces, distressed wood (from age or intentional) of pine, oak and maple are staples of country home case goods. There are many great sources of new, well constructed furniture that provide a timeworn appearance - a big plus! **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> country home decorating]]> decor]]> style]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success. For more information about her book plus other home decorating ideas, please visit Great-Home-Decorating.com

Home Decorating Ideas - Define Your Style...Shabby Chic or Simple Urban?

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

If you think about it, we all have a style of living that we prefer to surround ourselves with. When I've been away from home all day, as I'm driving back I can almost feel the atmosphere that I'll be stepping into, and that's a really good feeling. So, what type of lifestyle decor beckons you at the end of the day? There are many to choose from so we will narrow it down to two similar yet very contrasting decorating styles. These two styles take different approaches to a vintage look. First is Shabby Chic, which most everyone is familiar with. Shabby Chic is similar to cottage style decor and is known for white, distressed painted furniture, soft floral colors in pale shades of pink, blue and green, vintage accessories and comfortable, slip-covered furniture. You'll probably find fresh cut flowers, antique lace tablecloths, scented candles and crystals hanging from the antique chandelier. Shabby Chic decor includes a mix and match of fabrics such as stripes, florals and checks, tea stained fabrics and flea market finds. All in all, you will be comfortable and at home with Shabby Chic if you enjoy a soft, floral, feminine style of decor. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> interior design tips]]> decorating styles]]> shabby chic]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' a simple home decorating ideas guide. For more information please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Decorating Ideas - Defining Contemporary Decor

Thu, 04 Jun 2009 00:00:00 -0400

For some of us, the term 'contemporary style decorating' brings about thoughts of George Jetson and family, scooting through their ultra modernized and automated home. Contemporary home decor, although sleek, clean and smooth, can actually make a dramatic and colorful design statement that is an interesting blend of textures, colors and elements. If you enjoy clean lines, smooth surfaces, bold colors and natural elements, contemporary home decor could be the creative lifestyle expression for you. Neutral colors will be your selection for the walls, although a bold accent color or two are appropriate for accent walls if this fits with your overall design scheme. You will, in fact, want to use color to create drama. For example, if your walls are the neutral backdrop, you may select a sofa that is a bright, solid red. Your upholstered pieces will not have busy patterns, and in fact, there may not be much pattern in the space, with the exception of a striking area rug or artwork on the wall. To create further contrast in the area, you may decide to use a small amount of black as a dramatic accent. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> living room design ideas]]> contemporary decor]]> decorating on a budget]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a home decorating ideas guide. For more information please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Decorating Ideas - Is Cottage Style A Decor For You?

Fri, 22 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

When you envision the perfect home interior ambiance does it include the adjectives simple, lightfilled, vintage and comfortable? If so, you might be a candidate for Cottage Style decor! You don't have to reside in a literal cottage to incorporate this design theme into your lifestyle. The fundamentals of cottage style decor are not difficult to impplement and can be easy on the budget, too. The color scheme you select should be light overall for most types of cottage style decorating. A healthy dose of white along with soft shades of green, pink, blue, yellow, aqua and rose will set the cottage tone. If your taste lends more toward a rustic cottage look, you may incorporate more golds and medium shades of green into your decor. Use these colors on your walls, and don't hesitate to vary the colors from room to room. If you keep the shades very light and soft, you can create a beautiful transition throughout your home, while keeping the cottage theme prevalent. Try using a deeper tone of one of your selected colors as an accent in the room. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> cottage style decor]]> living room design ideas]]> decorating on a budget]]> interior decorating tips]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant and author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a home decorating ideas guide that is perfect for anyone who is decorating on a budget. For more information please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Decorating Ideas - Five Low Cost, Time Saving Tips For Stylish Room Design

Tue, 19 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

You have decided to decorate or redecorate a room, and that's the good news. However, your budget is slim and there is no time to shop. Sound familiar? If we started a club using this criteria I'll bet we'd have a lot of members! Some of us don't have the time or desire to shop all day for the absolutely perfect accessory for our home. And if the household budget is stretched thin, we already know the answer to the question, "Should I buy this pretty nic-nac or spend the money on food?" However, these scenarios don't change the fact that we still want to create a home that is unique to our lifestyle, expresses who we are and is a place we love to come home to. The challenge is to accomplish these goals while maintaining our budgets and daily schedules. There are some simple steps you can take to design and decorate a room or area of your home, and they don't take a lot of time or money. Let's be realistic, though, and acknowledge that you have to put some amount of time into any project in order to reap the benefits and achieve the goal. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> interior design]]> decorating on a budget]]> living room design ideas]]> home decor]]> tips]]> help]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decorating ideas and interior design tips. She is the owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget, located in Southwest Florida. For more information please visit http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Decorating Ideas - How to Decorate Florida Style

Wed, 06 May 2009 00:00:00 -0400

I reside in a warm, sunny climate and most days are filled with sunshine, palm trees, beautiful ocean waters and colorful flowers. For many folks, myself included, there is something about the warm, sunny tropical environment that lifts our spirits. And, decorating our homes in tropical, or Florida style is quite simple, as many retail establishments have a large selection of related home decor items to select. What can be done if you want that same tropical sunshine feel in your home but you don't live in my area of the world? Or, you may reside in a warm climate, but want to do something more creative than palm tree pictures and place mats. Whatever the situation, you can create a beautiful tropical home decor that uniquely expresses your lifestyle. First, determine what room or area of your home is going to be part of this decorating project, and then decide what your budget is going to be. It is critical that you address these two important points before doing anything else. If you are decorating on a budget, which most of us are, that will dictate your approach to this tropical transformation. **End Summary** Topics: simple inexpensive home decorating ideas]]> decorating on a budget]]> Florida style decorating]]> home decorating books]]> living room design ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple home decorating guide. She is also the owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget, located in Southwest Florida. For more information please visit http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Simple Home Decorating in Five Easy Steps

Fri, 24 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

What does the term 'Simple Home Decorating' bring to mind? For many, it can mean a quick, easy and inexpensive decorating style. An uncluttered, understated and natural style can also define simple home decorating. In fact, all of these attributes can be incorporated into a simple home decor that will appeal to just about anyone, particularly those who are decorating on a budget but still want to create an appealing look for their home. One very important starting point that is crucial in any home decor project is to de-clutter the area you are going to decorate, or in many situations, redecorate. Remove everything that you can physically carry out of the room, to give yourself a fresh start and the ability to really see what you are working with. This includes any accessories on shelves, throw rugs and wall decor - everything must go, at least for now. The only furnishings in the room should be large upholstery and casegoods that are too heavy to remove. Simple home decorating implies light, natural and easy to look upon, so with those thoughts in mind, look at the walls and floor in this area. **End Summary** Topics: simple home decorating ideas]]> living room design ideas]]> decorating on a budget]]> inexpensive home decorating]]> home decor project]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' an easy to understand guide for inexpensive and simple home decorating ideas. For more information please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Decorating Ideas: Decorate Effectively With Neutral Colors

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Some people just don't like to be overwhelmed with color. Usually their home has beautiful white walls, and their wardrobe consists of wearing khaki on a daily basis. Although some people will immediately think of 'dull and uninteresting' when presented with the idea of neutral colors, a neutral color palette can be very comforting, uncomplicated, sophisticated, polished, and more. Decorating with neutrals can take a variety of directions and the result is anything but boring. If you decide that a neutral color palette is the color scheme for your decorating project, what you are saying is that your selections will be primarily composed of white, off-white, beige, tan, khaki, gray, black and other similar colors. So now that you have made that decision, what is your next step? You should first determine the two or three main colors for your decorating project, and then select a fourth color as an accent. This is where the design decision becomes interesting. For example, you may decide that your main three colors will include off-white, tan and black. **End Summary** Topics: home decorating ideas]]> living room design ideas]]> interior decorating books]]> inexpensive home decorating]]> decorating on a budget]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!', an instructional guide filled with home decorating ideas . For more information please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Home Design Strategies: How to Get the Most From Your Furniture Arrangement

Sun, 12 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

For many people, home design and decoration just doesn't fit into the family budget right now, with other needs taking priority. Projects, plans and expenditures may have to be put on the back burner in place of other, more pressing budget needs. But stepping into your Living Room or Great Room on a daily basis is a constant reminder of some sorely needed freshening up. Don't despair! You can take some simple steps with your room decor to change the overall design and give a fresh perspective to the area, thus bringing a smile to your face. And there isn't a price tag that can be put on that! We are going to work with the thought that you will use what you have and not purchase anything new. There are literally no expenses other than some thoughtful planning and elbow grease. Before you take any action, go into the your Living Area and assess the furniture and accessories that currently reside there. Start with the room's largest pieces and make a list of those that are critical to the function of the room, then work your way down to the smallest items. **End Summary** Topics: inexpensive home decoration]]> simple decor design tips]]> learn to decorate home]]> home decor project]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant, owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' For more information regarding her services and book, please visit MySimplyDesigned.com

Five Steps to Simple, Easy, Inexpensive Living Room Redecoration

Sat, 04 Apr 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It happens to all of us at one time or another, and it doesn't matter what type of home you live in, whether renting or you are a homeowner. You take a look around your home and decide that it's time for a 'design facelift'. The surroundings that have provided comfort and enjoyment are now looking tired and ordinary. But, your home decor budget is slim to none, so what do you do? Don't give up before you start. Here are five easy, simple, inexpensive to no cost home decor changes you can make right now that will give any room in your home a fresh, new and interesting look. These strategies will be applied to your living room in this article, but will work effectively in any room of your home. First, clean out the clutter. Our 'stuff' has a way of accumulating without us realizing it, and after awhile can become more of a hindrance than anything else. Take each room in your home individually so you won't become overwhelmed with the task. Then, remove anything that you have not used in the last three months. **End Summary** Topics: living room design]]> living room ideas]]> home decorating ideas]]> inexpensive home decorating]]> home decorating tips]]> interior decorating ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the author of Ten Simple Steps to Design Success, a simple and easy to understand guide with home decoration ideas and interior design tips. She is the owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget, located in Southwest Florida. For more information please visit http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Lodge Style Decorating Tips

Mon, 30 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Have you always dreamed of living in a beautiful log home? If so, you're not alone. Many people admire the rustic, casual, earthy (in a good way), natural environment of log homes. I was fortunate to have lived in a log home for five years and, yes, it was a wonderful experience. We had our own 'private lodge' with a huge Great Room, soaring logged walls, antler chandelier, cathedral ceilings and trapezoid windows. It was great! However, log home owners are definitely in the minority, mainly because of the cost to build them. They are more expensive per square foot than a conventional home, particularly the custom designed homes. So, most folks dream of 'someday' while relaxing and reading log home magazines. While there may not be a log home in your future, if you love the lodge style decor of these homes, there are some things you can do in your existing home to create a similar look. Some are more costly than others, but if you have the budget for it, you can do some creative designing and have fun in the process. There are two important decisions to make before you take any action on this project. **End Summary** Topics: lodge style decor]]> learn to decorate lodge rustic]]> log home decorating]]> how to decorate log home]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant in Southwest Florida and author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!'. For more information (and to see some log home pictures) please visit http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Five Steps to Make A Small Room Live Larger

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Whether you live in a single family home, apartment, condo or duplex, there is probably at least one room that you wish was larger. Remodelling or building an addition may not be feasable for you, particularly if you are renting the residence. Add to that the requirement of inexpensive home decor, to keep things easy on the budget. So what can be done to make a small room live and look larger? You can give the overall appearance of more space in a room by taking some simple steps. You don't need a large budget, and some steps don't require that you spend any money at all. First, make sure that the walls are a light color. They don't have to be stark white, although if you love that look, it's fine. There are hundreds of shades of off-whites that can add interest and warmth to a room while maintaining an overall neutral palette. When you put dark colors on the walls of a room or area, it can make the walls recede visually, and that is what you want to avoid if your goal is to make an area appear larger. **End Summary** Topics: inexpensive home decoration]]> decorate small room]]> home decor]]> accessorize room]]> decorating tips]]> living room decor]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant, owner of 'Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget' located in Fort Myers, FL & author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' For more information regarding her book and design services, go to http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Select a Great Paint Color for Your Home Interior

Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

Home design projects look so simple and easy when done on television. You've seen the show before. The home makeover is in progress and a decision is made to do some interior painting. Just a few seconds later there is a beautiful new color on the walls of the room. The room looks great, everyone is smiling and it only took a few moments for the transformation! Things like this only happen on television or to other people, not to you. I know, my life is never that simple or easy, either. However, selecting a paint color for an interior room or space in your home doesn't have to be an agonizing process. There are some steps you can take to help you make a good decision when selecting a wall color and, therefore, become one of those happy, smiling people when the project is complete. There are two decisions you have to make before heading over to the paint store to pick up color swatches. First, determine the scope of your project, which means that you need to decide if you are going to paint one room, two rooms and a hallway, the entire Great Room, and so on. **End Summary** Topics: interior paint color selection]]> home design project]]> select paint color]]> budget decoration]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is a Design Consultant, owner of 'Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget' in Fort Myers, FL & author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' For more information regarding her book and design services, go to http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Selecting the Best Color Scheme for Your Home Decorating Project

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0400

It's exciting to make the decision to decorate, or re-decorate a room or space in your home. But for many folks, the next step is not clear, and hiring an interior designer may not be in the budget. So the challenge is to find a way to complete your design project while keeping the stress level as low as the budget! There are several decisions you should make at the onset of your project, and one of the most important is the color scheme for the space. Determining the color scheme before you make any purchases or other design decisions will benefit you in several ways. Let's define what is meant by 'color scheme'. Your color scheme represents the primary and secondary colors you will be using in your design project. You should select up to three primary colors and one or two secondary colors to work with. By making this decision at the beginning of the project you will ensure consistency in your selections and purchases. How do you go about deciding on on these colors? **End Summary** Topics: home design project]]> home decorating project]]> color selection]]> interior designer]]> decorating help]]> decorating on a budget]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget, and is also the author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success', an easy to follow guide to decorating your home on a budget. For more information please visit http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com

Five Ways to Redecorate Simply & Inexpensively

Wed, 04 Mar 2009 00:00:00 -0500

For many homeowners, making the decision to redecorate a room is much easier than knowing what to do first. Ultimately, some folks don't make any design changes at all because they're afraid of making a mistake. Don't worry! As long as you are committed to your project and willing to follow some simple directions, you can change the look of your room very inexpensively. We'll assume that your project is the living area, it is currently furnished, and you have a budget of up to $150. The first way to redecorate is to change the wall color. Paint is not expensive, is available in thousands of colors and is one of the simplest methods to refresh and update the look of a room. Do you like to make a bold statement with your fashion and design choices? Then you may be the type of person who will enjoy more color on the walls of their room. If you prefer the quiet, understated look of fashion and design, you might be happier with a subtle wash of wall color. Both looks can be beautiful, and there are a host of choices in-between. **End Summary** Topics: inexpensive home decorating]]> redecorate room]]> home decorating help]]> decorating ideas]]> design help]]> home decor]]> accessories]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Candi Randolph is the owner of Simply Designed...Decorating to Fit Your Budget, located in Fort Myers, FL. She is also the author of 'Ten Simple Steps to Design Success!' For more information go to http://www.MySimplyDesigned.com