| Well folks, Spring has sprung and with the | | | | room. Or you can make each room in your home |
| impending Tax Refund check coming, now is the | | | | or apartment a different theme, such as Country |
| time to spruce things up in your home or | | | | in the kitchen with Roosters and sunflowers, |
| apartment. Are you ready for a change in your | | | | Oriental Asian in the bathroom complete with a |
| home decor, but don't have the time to make big | | | | Tibetan singing bowl, and maybe a Nautical or |
| changes like painting the walls? Is replacing all the | | | | Rustic Country theme in the den. With the living |
| furniture or the flooring too expensive? Then this | | | | room you can have cowboys and western |
| article is for you! Ever wonder why home accents | | | | décor on one side of the room and Native |
| are called "accents?" Because they are the "little | | | | American and/or Southwest décor on the |
| things" that make your space your home by | | | | other, or mix them up in the same room since |
| putting a splash of color or a dash of art here or | | | | cowboys and Indians tend to mesh together |
| there around that space. | | | | easily. You can then add bits of antiques, like that |
| Are you a pack rat or do you like clean lines and | | | | big chair from your great uncle or that tiffany |
| open spaces? Does having all your favorite things | | | | lamp from your grandmother and blend them into |
| around you make you feel cozy and comfortable? | | | | an eclectic look. |
| What if you have a small space or you rent an | | | | Dress up your windows without changing the |
| apartment or home and can't make those BIG | | | | curtains by hanging a large framed stained art |
| changes? Then make the little ones! Let the four | | | | glass panel that matches your décor |
| walls and the floor be your canvas and be | | | | theme. Stained glass art panels are less expensive |
| creative with the décor accents. | | | | than traditional stained glass windows, yet look as |
| Remember, with home décor accents, if | | | | lovely and create the same amount of privacy. |
| you don't like the look, or if you get tired of it, | | | | Hand painted, hand carved, or wrought iron |
| they are easily replaced, and much easier than | | | | bookends in your favorite theme can tie the |
| replacing the big pieces of furniture or the wall to | | | | room's decor together, as well as your favorite |
| wall carpet. | | | | books. |
| Let's get started. It's easy. First, what's your | | | | Lamps and lampshades come in "themes" too. |
| favorite décor "theme?" Don't have one | | | | Try a natural leather or soft pigskin lampshade to |
| yet? Well let's think about that. Do you like boats, | | | | help set the mood for the rustic, lodge, country, |
| lighthouses, sea shells, the beach? Then a Nautical | | | | western, or southwestern "look." Get one that |
| theme is for you. Are you a horse lover? Do you | | | | matches the color theme of your room. Try |
| like Cowboys and rodeos? Then the Western | | | | changing out the lamps you have too. Hand made |
| theme is for you. Is your favorite animal the | | | | wrought iron, ducks sculptures, kachina dolls, |
| deer, moose, elk, or loons and ducks. Sounds like | | | | romantic marble, or Native American pottery |
| you're a rustic lodge kind of person. Or do you | | | | lamps will do the trick. For a more restrictive |
| like big bright sunflowers, roosters, and | | | | budget, adding a lamp finiale will give whatever |
| grapevines? Then you are wide open with choices | | | | lamp you are using the décor theme |
| with the Country theme. Country can be French, | | | | touch to bring it into focus. Do you have a |
| Tuscan, Shabby Chic, or good ole down home, | | | | bookcase or shelf to use as a focal point? Add a |
| front porch country - like Texas. In short, your | | | | genuine Navajo Kachina Doll or a genuine Guiseppe |
| "theme" can be anything you want it to be. | | | | Armani sculpture or a less expensive figurine. |
| Assuming that making a whole house furniture | | | | Hand crafted crystal vases or Native American |
| purchase is out of the question, what type of | | | | made pottery also look good in those spaces. And |
| furniture do you have - antiques, modern, art | | | | don't forget flowers can be added as a door |
| deco, leather, bargain basement specials? It really | | | | wreath or a flower basket made to match your |
| doesn't matter because you can combine any or | | | | theme. |
| all of these into your "theme" décor by | | | | Forget painting the walls and instead hang up a |
| matching or off-setting the colors of | | | | few hanging wall tapestries depicting a beautiful |
| décor accents with the colors present in | | | | scene to match your favorite theme. Many are |
| your furniture. How about the Southwestern look | | | | woven to look like a window with a view. Get one |
| with all the mystery of the Native American | | | | that you want to look through. You could also |
| Indians? Or are you more into the Asian Oriental | | | | hang up some other form of wall décor to |
| theme and want your home to reflect the | | | | focus your attention away from the paint. How |
| simplification of the Tibetan monks with room for | | | | about a throw rug or a set of coasters to offset |
| meditation? Whatever it is, just pick your favorite | | | | the table? Want to set a table that will get |
| "thing" and then build on that. Don't worry about | | | | ooooos and ahhhhs? Try using a custom make |
| getting new furniture, you can easily use your | | | | dinnerware set or some hand cut lead cased |
| eclectic furniture, be it handed down to you from | | | | Bohemian crystal wine glasses in pretty colors? |
| Grandma or Aunt Betty, or other family | | | | Granted, they may be a little expensive due to |
| members, by putting a decorative throw blanket | | | | the increase in the value of the Euro currency, |
| over it to make it blend in with the theme of | | | | but they will easily become a family heirloom. Did |
| your room's décor, or cover the couch, | | | | you know that following WWI and WWII, may |
| chairs, and/or bed with decorative throw pillows in | | | | servicemen brought back these same fine crystal |
| your favorite décor theme. | | | | wine glasses in the old world Grape Cut pattern |
| Now to build Your Space. Let's start with an | | | | back from Europe and it's still in use today? |
| example. Let's say you like Western and | | | | Final thought - Just follow your heart and the list |
| Southwest things, but you have antique furniture. | | | | you made of all the little things you want and it |
| Nothing says you can't mix them together in a | | | | will turn out just fine. |