Tag Archives: ideas


Custom Home Inspiration: Bathrooms

Nobody likes a blah bathroom and it seems like everyone suffers from outdated tile, boring walls, and cluttered countertops. One of the perks of working with Martell Home Builders is that you truly get the home that you want, you get a custom home experience. With a custom home experience comes the opportunity to create the dream spaces that you’ve always wanted, like your dream bathroom. And so, to help you, here are some beautiful bathrooms to inspire you as you create your custom home!

 

Happy Designing!

 

Top 7 Homemade Halloween Decorations You Can Make for Cheap!

Jack-o-Clock

(Source and instructions)

Last year, we gave you an article about cheap homemade Halloween costumes that were creative, unique and easy to make. This year, let’s take a look at some of the best homemade Halloween decorations you can make that are also super-creative and easy on the wallet.

Owl A Glow - Homemade Halloween Decorations

This owl might be more cute than scary, but it’s still an awesome-looking decoration worthy of making our list. For this project, all you need is a paper lantern (found at most party supply or craft stores for cheap), some paper, twine and glue dots. Visit Disney Family Fun for full instructions.

Tombstone Halloween Decorations for Your Lawn

Made from paper bags and cardboard, these tombstone lawn decorations will make a great addition to your Halloween décor – just as long as the forecast doesn’t call for rain! For a full list of what you need, complete instructions and tombstone/epitaph templates, visit the Martha Stewart website.

Vampire Lollies - Homemade Halloween Decorations

These little lollipop vampires are working double-duty; they’re fantastic Halloween decorations, and also the treats to hand out to either trick-or-treaters or your party guests. In addition to the lollies, all you need is some cellophane and a few other super-cheap supplies that you probably already have lying around the house. Full instructions can be found at the Kaboose website.

Glow-in-the-Dark Bat Mobile CenterpieceGlow-in-the-Dark Bat Halloween Decoration

These glow-in-the-dark bats look great in both the daylight and in the dark. Some of the supplies needed to make this DIY decoration can probably be found in your own backyard; the rest of the materials can be purchased at your local craft store. Full instructions can be found at the HGTV website.

Paranormal Portraits - DIY Halloween Decorations

This can be a real creepy display, especially when the photos are of your friends and family. In addition to needing photo frames (which you probably already have), the supplies needed include black craft paint, a sponge, cardstock, glue and red LED Christmas lights. You’ll also need a printer and the ability to convert digital images to black and white (there are several free photo editing programs that can do this for you). Visit the Country Living website for full instructions.

Pumpkin Porcupines - Halloween Decoration Ideas

A list of homemade Halloween decorations wouldn’t be complete without mentioning some cool pumpkin carving ideas! If you want to step away from the boring jack-o’-lanterns that everyone’s carving, consider making this porcupine pumpkin – it’s super creative and looks incredible when lit up. The Martha Stewart website will show you how to make this project, as well as other unique pumpkin critters.

Peekaboo Pumpkins

Rather than carving a pumpkin, you could consider decorating miniature gourds this Halloween. The project calls for three to five small bowls and lidded dishes and, if they aren’t already black and white, it’s suggested that you use spray primer to paint them. If you aren’t keen on the idea of painting your own dishes, sneak into your neighbour’s house at night to see what they’ve got. No, I’m kidding. What you can do, however, is visit your local thrift shop to see what’s available there. You can pick up used dishes for pennies, and remember, you’ll be painting them, so it doesn’t matter if they have tacky grandma-ish designs on them. The HGTV website has a complete list of supplies and instructions.

More? You Want More?!

These cheap homemade Halloween decorations not enough for you? If you check out any of the websites linked to above, each has a plethora of other ideas in addition to what’s mentioned here. So go ahead, check ‘em out, and when you find something really cool, make sure to leave a comment to let us know what you’ve found!

Oh, and happy Halloween!

[Image credits: screenshots have been captured from the respective websites]

Home Decorating Tips By Martha Stewart

Martha Stewart

From the kitchen to the garden, Martha Stewart is an icon when it comes to creative and money-saving tips. Here are some of her top home decorating tips.

Front foyer/mudroom decorating tips

Martha Stewart’s website has some fantastic ideas for decorating the front foyer which will not only help make your foyer look great but are also very practical. For example, consider making a boot/shoe tray that is filled with decorative stones. This looks pretty cool and will also prevent puddles and dirt from collecting on the floor.

Boot Tray by Martha Stewart

Custom curtains and shades decorating tips

Finding the perfect curtains or shades which match your home decor can be expensive or extremely difficult. To help you save money or to create the perfect shades to compliment other accents in the room, Martha Stewart has several DIY projects that are super easy to follow.

Decorating tips for displaying photos

Get those family photos off your computer’s hard drive and out into the open where they can get the attention they deserve. From picture frames and photo cubes to picture pillows and baby face clocks, Martha Stewart has some terrific decorating tips when it comes to displaying photos.  

Martha Stewart decorating tips by color

If you already know the colors you want to include in your home decorating project but are struggling to find inspiration, check out Martha Stewart’s 232 Rooms by Color.

MarthaStewart.com 232 Rooms by Color

Decorating tips for the bedroom

“The key to enlivening a neutral room is to brighten it with several shades of the same color.”  This is just one of several bedroom decor tips Martha Stewart offers her readers. Another: “Nothing completes your boudoir like a headboard — it provides a focal point and makes the whole room more inviting. The store-bought kind can be expensive and bulky, so try this shortcut: Using the lines in a graphic wallpaper as your guide, cut out a silhouette that serves as a virtual headboard.”  And taking it one tip further, an idea I love (and may consider making it myself) is: “A solid old door, refinished and hung sideways, becomes a perfect — and perfectly inexpensive — headboard for a bed.” This looks awesome, as far as I’m concerned.

Door Headboard by Martha Stewart

Are you the next Martha Stewart?

Do you have some home decorating tips and ideas that would put Martha Stewart to shame? Make sure to leave a comment below to let us know!