Few things are more annoying then jumping out of the bed on a cold morning onto an even colder hardwood floors. Don't get me wrong, hardwood floors are gorgeous and really give a room a classy look but if you have hardwood floors then area rugs definitely serve a very important purpose. Area rugs are multi-functional and truly versatile; they come in a wide variety of colors and styles and are relatively inexpensive. Adding a few throughout your home or apartment can definitely spruce up the place and give it some color.

One kind of rugs that are very popular is the flokati rug. Chic and very functional, Flokati rugs are handmade in the mountains of Greece. Since they can be dyed in a variety of colors, they can be matched with almost any decor, and since they are all wool you never have to worry about having cold feet in the morning if you have one on the side of your bed. The best quality flokati rugs are 100% wool and are durable enough to withstand heavy use while showing little sign of wear or tear.

Maintenance of your flokati rugs is very important if you want them to last for a long time. One of the simplest ways to keep the rugs looking good is to routinely shake the rug in order to remove any of the dirt particles that may get into it. Of course, you would want to avoid walking on the rug in shoes that are just covered in dirt or grime. The rugs can also be vacuumed as long as the setting is suction only to avoid damaging the nap of the wool. You can also brush the rug with a stiff bristle hair brush in order to restore the original texture of the wool.

If you are looking for something that is unique and elegant, you may want to consider leather area rugs. For one, leather rugs are also way more inexpensive then you think. The rugs have a very nice texture and are incredibly soft. A leather shag rug is a great touch in the bedroom, and another excellent way to ensure that there are no cold feet on chilly winter mornings. A good quality rug will be handmade and since it is leather, it is quite durable. You need to remember however, that will leather rugs by themselves do not cost a lot, getting leather cleaned can be quite expensive so it is a good idea to take special care to avoid getting your leather shag rug unnecessarily dirty.

Area rugs are a great addition to any room in your home but especially for the bedroom, they can serve double duty. They are an excellent way to spruce up a room or change the decor just enough to keep things interesting. Also they provide an excellent way to keep cold toes nice and cozy when the weather is not particularly agreeable. So if you haven't changed things around in the bedroom in awhile, consider picking up a few areas rugs just to make things interesting.

Especially in the case of a smaller bedroom, it is important to utilize storage space efficiently. Fortunately there are creative methods you can use to add additional storage space to any bedroom.

Adding Extra Shelving to the Bedroom

One of the advantages of wall shelving is that you can add it any place where there is empty wall space. Try adding a long shelf around the entire perimeter of the room, about a foot to a foot and a half from the ceiling. This kind of high shelf can add a lot of design appeal to a room while providing ample amounts of storage space to display collectibles and other decorative items; the shelf reduces the need to use lower storage areas for these types of items. Smaller shelves can be squeezed in almost anywhere. If you have an upstairs bedroom with a sloping ceiling that meets short walls, consider adding shelves or bookcases to the area under the sloped ceiling, since this is often wasted space anyway. You can add decorative boxes and bins to shelving areas to hold small objects, keeping them handy and yet out of the way.

Under Bed Storage

Don't overlook the under bed area for storage possibilities. By purchasing storage units designed for under bed usage, you can store items such as off-season clothing, holiday decorations, wrapping paper, craft supplies and other items that are needed only on occasion, which can help save space in the bedroom.

Using Furniture to Add Storage Space

One way to add extra storage space to a bedroom is to include furniture that provides extra storage space. A blanket chest placed at the foot of the bed will not only provide a convenient area to store comforters and blankets, but can be used to store clothing, files and papers, photographs, seasonal décor and more. A chest of drawers can be effectively used in the bedroom. Try selecting a tall one as opposed to a shorter chest to get the maximum amount of storage from the same amount of floor space. Drawers in any type of furniture can be used more efficiently if you add drawer dividers.

Organize the Closet

Bedroom closets often include only a single shelf and a clothes rod, which isn't optimal for the things that most people need to store in their closet. You can maximize the storage space in any closet by installing a good closet organization system, which will provide drawers, bins and other types of storage features in addition to a clothes rod. If you don't use a closet organization system, you can still add more storage space to a closet by removing the top closet shelf, which is often difficult to access, replacing it with a second clothes rod. This second higher rod can be handy for shorter items of clothing such as shirts, or you can use it to store off-season clothing, giving you more space on the lower rod for the clothes you are currently using. Add an over-the-door shoe storage rack to the closet and mount several hooks to the inside closet wall for extra space to hang bags, belts, scarves, etc.

Jessica Ackerman writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com where she provides detailed instructions for decorating with garden wall decor and large outdoor clocks.

When you look around your room, you probably see a light blend of colors so no color stands out alone. This is the way that almost everyone decorates their home. They play it safe and go with a light pastel or blending tones. Using these light colors allows you to decorate and redecorate all you want, without changing the colors on your wall.

When you go outdoors you see many different colors; primary colors of green, blue, yellow, and red. It is possible to create a look indoors using primary colors that can also coordinate with the rest of your decor.

In the Dining room

To add primary colors to your dining room you will need to start with your walls. You want to put yellow on your walls but tone it down with a light brown or white trim. Yellow is a soothing color and can actually affect your appetite. Eating is more relaxing when you see the color of yellow. Most colors can have a dramatic effect on you and it is important to choose the correct color for the specific room that you are looking to decorate.

Choose a soft blue print for your tablecloth and curtains. You can make this yourself or you can buy one. Use a soft solid color blue print under the tablecloth that will allow the table to be covered from top to bottom.

A neutral color on the floor will go well. Using a neutral color on the floor will allow your focal point to be on the yellow you placed on the walls. Use small rectangle braided rugs under the table and in front of any furniture. Round rugs are also appropriate for the dining room as well.

In The Living Room

If you are bringing primary colors into your room, you can benefit from choosing a bright color like red with white or cream color wainscoting. Keep the decor very simple. If you paint a piece of furniture make sure that you paint it in the same color as your walls. Accessorize with an off-white color so you can offset the main color; red. You want cream colors on your lower walls, shutters, or blinds in the windows, and on your floor. Complete the look with southwestern rugs. Choose light wood furniture instead of a dark wood.

A Home Office

With more people working at home today, it’s only natural that you want to decorate a room for a home office. The perfect home office will consist of pastel blue-checkered pattern on the walls. You can pick up wallpaper at almost any home improvement store. The pastel color tones down the primary color but it doesn’t allow it to be dull. Next, you want a floral border that will go around the middle of the room, not at the top. Accent with pastel pink and yellow shades on the pillows and cushions.

Choose shaped rugs for the floor or you can try square rugs with glued pastel checkered border around it.

Many unique things make up a finished room, from paint to wallpaper, carpet to wood flooring, and dozens of furniture and accessory options. However, choosing handmade accessories can be a beautiful way to show creativity and style, and can offer that perfect final touch to just about any part of the house. Handmade accessories that add a finishing touch are not hard to find, and you can easily make your own items or purchase them in many places on the Internet or in a few retail locations.

Obviously, you or someone you love make some of the best handmade accessories. These offer great conversation pieces, and can easily become the envy of anyone who comes into your home. Choosing to design something yourself can be a fun and interesting project, and you can create your own accessory, or go with a do-it-yourself project offered at many retailers or online.

Picture frames are very easy to customize and create into works of art. Add your own touches with a little bit of hot glue or putty, and you have something interesting and unique to add to the room as a perfect final touch. You can choose almost anything to customize with, from seashells to buttons, leather to lace, and it will look great, and mean something special to you and your family.

Wall art is another great accessory that you can make, and will add a perfect finishing touch to the room. Regardless of whether you paint, cross-stitch, embroider, knit, draw, write, or just throw something together, there are thousands of easy options available. If you are not artistic, or feel like you do not have enough skill, consider asking a friend or family member for a great piece. Many people who do these kinds of things love to show off their hard work, and hanging something special that someone you love made is a great way to put some love into the room in a unique way.

Blanket pillows are fun and simple to make, and are a functional addition that adds a great finishing touch to the couch. Instead of keeping throw pillows and blankets around for cuddling on the couch or curling up with a good book, television show, or movie, make a blanket pillow that offers a comfy pillow or a warm and snuggly blanket in one package. This saves spa ce, but still adds a creative handmade accessory that anyone can make without problem.

Along these same lines, making throw pillows is very easy. Choose the material that works for the room in mind, sew three sides, add stuffing, and you are done. If you want to add an extra touch, decorate the fabric however you wish before sewing. Just make sure to turn the pillow inside out before sewing, and reverse to add stuffing. This makes sure that the seams are hidden inside the pillow. Do not forget to close the final side with ribbon, zipper, or stitches so the stuffing does not fall out. If you are not a sewing person, use a sewing machine for simple stitching on three sides, then add a bought pillow and close however you like for easy washing.

Author, Theresa, is Metal-Wall-Art.com’s number one design specialist on decorating with coffee cup metal wall art and turtles metal wall sculptures.

Finding the perfect window covering can be challenging.  Thankfully, there are many window treatments available that can be customized to suit the needs of any decor.  One of the most elegant ways to decorate windows is with blinds and shutters.  These two methods come in a wide range of colors, sizes and materials.  They offer privacy from passersby and insulation from the elements outside.  Although it may be easy to decide on blinds or shutters, figuring out which type of blind or shutter to install may prove to be more difficult. 

Wooden Blinds
Custom made to fit the size and shape of just about any window, wooden blinds are elegant and classy.  They come in a wide range of woods and many can be custom stained.  Typically, wooden blinds have small, horizontal slats and are not usually found in vertical blind form.  Wooden blinds are durable and can last for many years.  To care for them, invest in a soft, micro-fiber duster designed specifically for mini-blinds.  Only use a liquid cleaner if the manufacturer recommends one, as improper use of liquids on the blinds can cause them to warp and splinter. A less expensive option than real wood, faux wood blinds look amazing close to the real thing.

Plastic Blinds
If the look of blinds is appealing, but the price tag of wooden blinds is too high, consider vinyl or plastic blinds.  They come in a wide range of colors, textures and sizes to fit any size window or door.  Unlike wooden blinds that tend to come in a limited range of slat sizes, plastic blinds come in sizes ranging from mini- to extra-wide.  They also come in vertical and horizontal styles, which makes them perfect for patio and sliding glass doors.  Choose from colors that are commonly used in decorating or order a custom color to match a special room's decor.  Specialty blind shops can provide professional measuring and installation to make sure that the perfect blinds are being installed for each room.

Wooden Shutters
Wooden shutters are usually more expensive than blinds, but they offer a look that cannot be matched by conventional window coverings.  Shutters add elegance and style to any window while blocking light and heat.  Popular in the southwestern part of the country, wooden shutters are preferred for their ability to withstand heat without fading or warping.  Many homeowners prefer to deal with a professional window treatment company when choosing wooden shutters and this is the only way to get a custom size. When purchasing shutters, the company providing them will measure and offer an estimate.  The measurements are then sent to the factory where they are custom made to the measured dimensions.  A professional installer will then come mount them on the window for a beautiful look.  Although it is possible to replace individual louvers should they become damaged, they are very expensive.  Finding someone qualified to replace them without removing the entire window treatment can also be problematic, so ask for recommendations from neighbors and friends who may also have wooden shutters.

It is possible to install wooden shutters on your own, although sizes are standard and cannot be customized. They can be purchased unfinished or primed for painting from home improvement stores and you can stain or paint them as desired. You need to decide on inside or outside mount and choose the size that is closest to the size of your windows. Careful and level installation is a must for a professional look.

Decorating with blinds and shutters is a beautiful way to block the heat of afternoon sun and the chill of a cold winter's day.  With the variety of colors, sizes and finishes available, there is a blind to match every room in every home.  Although the installation of such window treatments is a costly expense, the beauty and value that blinds and shutters bring to a home is well worth the investment.

Professional designer Jessica Ackerman, writes for WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, and specializes in decorating with outdoor wall art decorations and atomic outdoor wall clocks.