How To Successfully Complete a DIY Project

Beautiful Accessories Accent Any Room

While the general steps to successfully completing a DIY project might seem quite obvious, you’d be surprised at the number of people that skip a crucial stage: planning.  Drawing up an outline does not take a lot of time, and in the end, will undoubtedly save you a lot of time.  Missing steps & lacking the necessary information can be avoided with the creation of a simple plan.

Here are a few guidelines for you to remember:

1)  Determine your budget

The scope of your project is essentially dictated by the amount of money that you’ve allotted for it.  Once you’ve set your budget, you can more easily calculate how to disburse your expenses.

2)  Take measurements

There’s nothing more frustrating than purchasing a home accent or furniture piece that cannot fit through a doorway.  Spare yourself time & energy by taking 10 minutes to precisely measure the area as well as the furniture piece that you intend on purchasing.

3)  Make a list of everything that you need

Taking that trip to the hardware store can be much more enjoyable when you have an exact list of supplies that you’ll need to buy in order to put your project into action.  Don’t be that person that finally reaches the last step only to realize that the end is no longer in sight because of an oversight on your prior purchase.

4)  Create hard copy & soft copy folders to reference materials for future projects

Remember the name of that specific screw or the list that you made for a DIY project that you created for a friend a few months ago? Duplicating original referential materials can be quite tedious -
especially when you start thinking, “if only I’d saved everything the first time around”.

Preparation is key.  Always remember that a successful project is dictated by thorough planning.  Allow Popular Home Collections to make your project just a little bit easier this New Year.

Tricks of the Trade

How often do you visit your local home decor store? Once a week...once
a month? Whatever your response, I will wager that you find it to be
an adventure each time. Working in retail teaches us one thing: CHANGE
is good. A fresh new look is always desirable.

Moving existing merchandise to different areas of the shop
subconsciously entices the customer to return time and time again.
Often times, consumers may even mistake an older item for a new
arrival simply because of its change in placement. Well, good news -
this same trick of the trade can be put to good use in your home.
Moving existing pieces from room to room can be the answer to a
decorating dilemma. Take that picture from the guest room and make it
the new focal point of the living room. Add a few throw pillows to
accent prominent colors within the picture in order to enhance your
room. Consider changing the lighting to alter the tone of your room.
If you are using low wattage bulbs in lamps, then amp them up! Light
offers an easy way to bring new life to any space.

Some folks cringe at the mere mention of the word 'paint'. Painting is
a very creative and inexpensive way to add character to a room. Spice
things up with just a splash of color.  Pick a tone from an existing
accent piece or from the drapes, and allow this color to become your
central theme. No need to empty the room and paint the walls from top
to bottom, a simple mid-line stripe in the chosen scheme can infuse
new life into any atmosphere.

Bath Accessories Can Spice Up a Room

Rearrange your furniture and your accessories.  Display them in new
and original ways. Remember, sometimes less is more.  The secret to
decorating lies in how you allow yourself to be creative.

Shop with Popular Home Collections!

Happy Decorating,

Paula

Bright Ideas

Come winter time, the gloomy weather often causes a dreary room to
seem unbearable! After all, we do not enter rooms of comfort to
hibernate (well, maybe the basement), so let’s brighten up our
designated room in a jiffy.

Consider starting with sheer window treatments to allow the maximum
amount of light to filter into said room. The right set of curtains
can help to accentuate the light and allow it to enhance specific
areas.

Bold Colors Uplift

Next, add some robust color. Colors on the warm end of the spectrum
often trigger an uplifting effect. Reds, purples, yellows, and oranges
help to create an energetic atmosphere.

Adding citrus scented candles to a room will wake it up sweetly.
Grapefruit and lemon flavors are a couple of wonderful choices.

Lastly, a wonderful centerpiece for the winter table is a bowl of
fruit.  Aside from the infusion of color, this element also
self-serves as a healthy snack. After all, we all need more vitamin C
in the winter!

These bright ideas will work in a kitchen, a dining room, or even a
living room or family room.  It may be gray and dreary outside, but
your home can be bright and beautiful with just a bit of creative
attention!

Shop Popular Home Collections!

Be Bright~
Paula

Quality Decorating for Less

In this day & age, everyone has a budget. Decorating your home for a
minimal amount is a breeze when you use your imagination and your
wits! For example, let’s say you have $100 allotted for a bedroom
project. It sure doesn’t sound like much, does it? But wait… don’t
get discouraged - let’s see what we can do to make the ultimate
changes for the minimum price!

Brighten Your Room With New Curtains

First things first, look around your room. Try to think of creative
ways to enhance what you already have in your space. Take note of your
bedside lamp.  It can exude originality with a change as simple as a
new shade. How easy was that? Now…imagine your windows with new
treatments. What a wonderful and inexpensive change for a dreary room.
With still enough money for more miracles, choose a new bed ensemble
to accentuate your curtains. You already have a room that is looking
too good to be true. For added impact, consider splashing some color
around with matching throw pillows. Perfect. The light through the new
window treatments will bring a subtle glow to your room, while the new
bed ensemble will create harmony and elegance. Grab a good book, turn
on that refurbished lamp, prop yourself up on those soft new pillows,
and enjoy your first night in your new room…decorated on a
budget…but who will know?

Decorate on a budget at Popular Home Collections

Happy Decorating,
Paula

Kiss The Cook!

Kiss The Cook!

Great, Unique Pieces Make Kitchen Memories

So many wonderful memories center around the kitchen. All the yummy smells and wonderful flavors. A kitchen can easily become a place to gather with family and friends. Decorating in the kitchen is always challenging. Do you go with a specific theme, or a color? How about a little of both? Let’s create a kitchen that welcomes everyone in and offers a feeling of comfort and joy. Adorn the windows with curtains that add cheer, tie your look together with matching kitchen accessories…towels, pot holders, table cloth and canisters. Oh and to really make your kitchen the “place to be” fill those canisters with home baked cookies. A kitchen filled with beauty and warmth can be yours, it is as simply as pie…

Make mine apple!

Dare to Decorate!

Paula

Preparing for the New Year

As a part of New Year’s tradition, we all must come to grips with reality.  This is often acknowledged by making many resolutions.  Whether you’re striving to become happier, make more money, do more for your community, or be involved in general, you’ll swear by this vow for likely a week until it has lost its novelty.

Why not begin by setting tangible and measurable goals?  Goal-setting does not need to wait until the new year.  If you begin preparing & planning now, then you’ll be able to take action once the ball drops.  Perhaps begin by considering some DIY home improvement projects.  These often get lost in the shuffle because of higher priority commitments like family & work.  Because these projects are often viewed simply as “something else to add to the list”, or as inconceivable processes, they become an inconvenience rather than achievable task.  Home decorating can not only be fun & creative, but it can also positively impact the look and feel of your home.

A New Shower Curtain Can Change the Feel of Your Bathroom

Start simple, tackle the bathroom.  Creating a warm & inviting ambiance within one of the more highly-trafficked rooms in the home can go a long way.  Bathroom sets or bath in a bag options make decorating this space extremely easy.  Simply choose a pattern and color scheme that you like, and voila, you’ve got everything from the shower curtain to rugs to a variety of matching accents and accessories.

Feel like making a bigger change?  Seek out that comforter set and bedding that you know would flawlessly transition your ordinary bedroom into a much needed sanctuary.  If you dread entering a room that is supposed to guarantee comfort and solace, then it can greatly impact your daily outlook.  Give yourself that safe-haven that you deserve.

And what about the kitchen?  Viewing this area as an artistic space rather than an area filled with household chores can do wonders for your attitude.  Allow it to be a place where you can express your inner creativity.  Dress it up with country themed curtains, a matching tablecloth, and a variety of unique accents from breadboxes to coffee mug trees, potholders, oven mitts and much more.

These are just a few ideas to help trigger your goal-setting & home decorating mood.  Feel free to share any other suggestions that you may have in regard to how to successfully set & achieve goals.

Happy Planning!

Holiday Decorating on a Budget

Decorating for the holidays on a tight budget does not mean that you need to sacrifice style for price.  It simply suggests that you may need to be a bit more creative in how you choose to embellish your home’s holiday spirit.

Sure, many people rely on the ornaments that they’ve had for years while others have decided to reduce the amount of flair they typically use because of the state of the current economy.  There are a variety of homemade home decorating tactics that you can employ throughout your home; from candles in a cleaned out mayonnaise jar to coloring pre-owned bulbs or balls and placing them in a clear mixing bowl.  However, there are reasonably priced holiday decorating options for purchase available - you just need to know exactly what you’re looking for & how to effectively search.

Holiday Accessories Are Fun and Warm

On the other hand, there are also areas that may be better served with already manufactured themes and patterns.  Like your bathroom decor.  Holiday decorating within the bathroom is typically very affordable as the materials used in creating these items can be more economical than in products found in other areas of the home.  Infusing a poinsettia or paisley patterned shower curtain with matching accent rugs into your bathroom provides an efficient way of placing the holiday spirit in one of the most highly-trafficked rooms in the home.  Simply add an eggnog, apple cinnamon, or pumpkin spice flavored candle into your bathroom to truly create a warm & inviting holiday ambiance.

Everything is coming up Roses!

The Rose is by far the most well known flower. Literally millions of roses are sent as fragrant gifts every year all over the country. The rose is a lovely expression of nature and love.

Invite the beauty and serenity of this precious flower into your home to transfer your bathroom into a romantic Crystal Leaf Rose Shower Curtain sanctuary.

The… 

Crystal Leaf Rose Shower Curtain  

 is a beautiful beginning to a room that will blossom gloriously. Soft subtle shades of rose imprinted with crystal leaves and blooms…matching accessories adorn, creating a perfect union of romance and ambiance.

Designer tips…add

A pretty rose print to grace the wall…a tea rose wreath, scented with rose essential oil…to finish with individuality and flair…place a book of poetry centered around roses in your bathroom for your guests to enjoy. Decorating around a theme is a wonderful way to express your adoration for the finer things in life.  

“A rose by any other name…would still smell as sweet”

Paula~

My Favorite December Collection

December…

 A well decorated room is appealing to all the senses. It must have feeling, taste, sight and sound. To achieve this is amazingly simple.

 Feel…

 Choose a fabric that is pleasing to the touch.

 Taste…

 Perhaps you love chocolate…I do!

 Sight…

 Accessorize…accessorize!  Lovely accessories are eye candy!

 Sound…

 Create a space so lovely, you will hear compliment after compliment!

Here is my choice to satisfy the senses. Lovely luxurious shower curtain and window treatments…decadent accessories…all providing a glimpse into your wonderful sense of taste!

 This collection is not only beautiful, it is all inclusive. Everything you could dream of to beautify a bathroom, you will find in the Rosalina Chocolate Bath Ensemble. A deliciously warm and wonderful bath is yours with this collection.

 To add even more sensational bliss…

 Add a box of chocolate decorative soaps…some cocoa room spray…and a little bowl of chocolate kisses to satisfy the chocolate lover in all of us.

 A very tastefully decorated space is only a click away!

 Bon Appetite!!!

  Paula~

Online Holiday Shopping Advantages

Online shopping has undoubtedly lent a hand in reducing holiday stress
levels.  We at Popular Home Collections feel that boasting an online
storefront is an essential component to any successful business in
today’s society.  By providing consumers with a convenient way to
shop, especially around the hectic holiday season, the Popular Home
Collections team hopes to alleviate any extra concerns that many
people face during this time of year.

Finding quality home decor online isn’t as challenging as it once was,
but trusting the service & selection of many companies with an online
presence is a concern for many consumers.  Our goal is to make your
online holiday shopping experience as enjoyable as possible.

Elegant Comforter Set Makes a Great Gift

Here are 5 reasons why you should consider shopping online this holiday season:

1)  Save money

Price comparison shopping engines make finding the best price on any
product very simple these days.  Trim your expenses wherever you can.

2)  Save time

Most people barely get a few minutes to themselves anymore.  Shopping
shouldn’t continue to drain this precious commodity.  Shop
efficiently.

3)  Save gas

Gas prices have gone down considerably, but saving any extra cash
during these trying economic times is still very critical for many
families.

4)  Avoid lines & crowds

Spare yourself from getting lost in the herd or wasting even more of
your precious time.  Shop safely & soundly.

5)  Shop wherever, whenever

Many businesses boast an online storefront.  If you couldn’t get to
the store during normal business hours, then have no fear - the
virtual shopping world never closes.

We welcome & appreciate any and all visitors this holiday season.
Please let us know if there is anything that we can assist you with,
for we’re only as happy as our customers are.

Happy Holidays & Peaceful Shopping!