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8 Fire Safety Tips 8 Nights of Hanukkah

December 4, 2015 By

If you and your family celebrate Hanukkah, this week will involve lighting the menorah. But in all the holiday fun, it’s easy to forget that having an open flame in your home is always cause for greater safety measures. Here are some tips for a safer holiday.

  1. Place your menorah on a sturdy, non-flammable surface: Your menorah, especially when lit, should rest on a stable fixture in your home. You and your family’s guests may accidentally bump into a wobbly table and knock it over. Non-flammable surfaces like glass, metal, or marble work best.
  2. Keep the menorah and matches out of children’s reach: Make sure that your menorah is positioned in a place where your children can enjoy it, but is out of their reach so they don’t hurt themselves. Be sure to store all matches and lighters safely after each candle lighting; kids may find them if left out.
  3. Never leave a lit menorah unattended: All the excitement of the holidays can sometimes lead to carelessness. When burning, the menorah should always be under some sort of supervision.
  4. Place menorah out of reach of pets: Furry friends are eager to join in on the holiday festivities. They could be drawn to the new object in your home and want to investigate, so keep it at a height where they can’t get their paws on it.
  5. Use only non-flammable menorahs: This may seem like an obvious tip, but it’s worth reiterating. Any ornamental menorahs made by your kids in arts and crafts should be admired, but not used in your Hanukkah ceremony.
  6. Don’t walk around with lit candles: Choose the area of your home where your menorah will be lit, then keep it there. Don’t carry your menorah from room to room to avoid potentially dropping it.
  7. Decorate with care: The area surrounding your menorah often receives extra decorations. That is absolutely fine, as long the adornments are non-flammable and not likely to tip over and displace the menorah.
  8. Place your menorah in a secluded area of your home: You’re already going to put your menorah out of reach of children and pets, but it’s equally important to keep the menorah out of your home’s general flow of traffic to avoid accidentally knocking it over.

 

Following these helpful fire safety tips will ensure that you and your family have a pleasant and safe Hanukkah celebration.

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DIY: Holiday Card Display Wreath

December 2, 2015 By

With a flood of holiday cards now filling your mailbox, it can be difficult to find enough space to display them all. Within a week, the mantel is full and you’re left looking for other options to prevent any one place from looking too crowded. To solve that problem, we’ve created a simple DIY card wreath that will help you find a home for this season’s batch of festive greetings. The simple, neutral style of this display should match many different decor styles, from modern to rustic, and it will be exciting to pull out of the attic year after year!

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What You’ll Need

If you don’t already have the supplies for this project lying around the house, you can easily find them at your local craft store. Gather these items to get started:

  • A large hoop (pictured is an 18” quilt hoop)
  • Felt (Choose shades of green for a natural look, or try experimenting with unexpected but still festive hues like vibrant red or gold.)
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Small pompoms (We used white pompoms for a mistletoe look, but red or metallic pompoms are fun as well.)
  • Twine
  • Thumbtacks
  • Tiny clothespins

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How to Make It

Step 1: Begin by making your leaves. You can freehand these onto the felt with a permanent marker before cutting, or practice them on paper first. The wreath in the picture has one long branch (going down the left side), two medium branches (one layered on each side), two small branches (one layered on each side) and one middle piece to cover the gaps between felt layers. Test the size and placement of each felt piece as you go to figure out what you like best.

Step 2: Glue your leaves in place and allow them to dry according to your adhesive’s instructions.

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Step 3: After the glue has dried, lay out your twine and cards to decide on their placement. Since holiday cards come in a lot of different shapes and sizes these days, many combinations will be possible. Once you’ve decided where your twine will need to go, attach it to the back of the hoop either with thumbtacks (which will push the wreath away from the wall, creating depth) or staples. You may want to glue or fasten the twine where it runs along the hoop to keep it from view, but that’s up to you.

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Step 4: Next, flip your hoop back over and glue the pompoms on the “leaves.” Keep the arrangement fairly random to resemble to natural, organic look of berries. As a bonus, these can be helpful for covering any odd gaps between the leaves if that’s necessary.

Step 5: Now find the perfect spot to hang your new wreath. We chose to hang ours over the fireplace, but the foyer, kitchen and dining room are all possibilities—just think about where you’re likely to enjoy it the most! You can attach it to the wall using a simple nail or any other picture-hanging supplies.

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Step 6: Choose a handful of your favorite cards, then attach them to the twine with the mini clothespins. Remember: Your arrangement doesn’t have to stay the same all season. Have fun swapping out the older cards for new ones as they arrive in your mailbox so that you always have a fresh collection of smiling faces greeting you and your family!

About the Author:

Julia Marchand is a DIY and home design expert for Shutterfly. She lives in New Hampshire, where she grew up, with her husband and year-old son. Julia loves all things vintage and spends her time sewing, reading and crafting. Follow Julia on Twitter to find out what adorable holiday idea she comes up with next!

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5 Thanksgiving Space Savers

November 24, 2015 By

‘Tis the season to welcome your entire extended family into your home (including the twice-removed uncle you didn’t know existed until your mother invited him over). If you’re used to only hosting a small number of people at the same time, these helpful hacks will make your space go the distance during Thanksgiving.

  1. Make room for mingling. Hang some simple mirrors on the wall; they’ll give off the illusion of a larger room. Invest in some chic foldable chairs, and move seating towards the walls to make room for as much mingling as possible.
  2. Minimize mess. Make one signature cocktail for the night and serve them in pitchers or punch bowls. Clean as you go throughout the day so you’ll have more breathing room as dishes hit the sink.
  3. Aim high. Set your sights on hanging decor like festive lighting instead of tablescapes to make room for edibles.
  4. Ask for help. Ask each guest to contribute a dish. Be specific, though. You don’t want to end up serving three green bean casseroles and four interpretations of cranberry sauce.
  5. Take a break. Give the house a breather and take the party outside—head to the park for a post-dinner stroll or some football.

 

With these space saving hacks, the only extra space you’ll need to worry about is saving room for dessert!

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5 Fantasty Homes for the Football Fan

November 15, 2015 By

Autumn may have foliage, Halloween hauntings, and pumpkin spiced everything, but one thing dominates the minds of the most dedicated sports fans: football season. Chances are you’re not going to leave the house on Sundays between now and the Super Bowl, so you might as well cozy up in a nook that reflects your passion for your fantasy football team and admiration for eating hot wings in sweatpants. Here are some must-haves for the ultimate baller’s crib.

Crawl into the Man Cave

Your wife wouldn’t be a huge fan of the entire home being a giant shrine to your favorite team, but one dedicated room will easily become your favorite in the entire house. Some must-haves for your dream man cave might include at least two flat-screen TVs no less than 60 inches so you can catch every bit of action from every game, a sound system that’s all about the bass, sound installation to noise-proof the space outside of the cavernous doors, a floor-to-ceiling wall mural of the home team, and theatre-style recliners where you can kick up your feet and sink into the seat.

The Ultimate Bar

Drinking Budweiser might be okay for Game Day, but you’re not one to settle for a run-of-the-mill six-pack. Upgrade your bar area to include leather stools, a sleek bar top, and a fully-packed fridge that includes your quintessential hops and IPAs. Don’t forget about the liquor cabinet; always have the right ingredients (or perhaps an engraved cocktail shaker) for your signature martini or weekly Make-Your-Own-Bloody-Mary Bar.

XXL Backyard

When you’re not busy watching or analyzing football, you’re probably playing football before the game with your bros. Having an extra spacious yard saves you a trip to the local park—and also the embarrassment of having strangers watch you practice your touchdown dance. Wrapping up the game with an impromptu tailgate on your wooden deck is the ideal way to unwind after getting down and dirty on the green.

A Bar-Centric Kitchen

Your doctor recommends being healthy six days out of the week so you can splurge on Football Sunday. Having the ultimate buffet set up on a spacious kitchen island gives you enough room to spread out the mountain of hot wings and seven-layer nacho dip you’re planning on sinking your teeth into by the end of the first quarter. Getting pizza delivered from Domino’s is a decent standby for newbies, but wouldn’t a pizza oven make your slices that much better? If you don’t have space in the house for one, setting one up in the backyard is a good alternative.

Game Room for Game Day

You’re never too old to have game nights with your buds. A room solely filled with the works—a billiards-style pool table and a foosball court, a curated jukebox with nothing but the hits, darts in one corner and a Pac-Man arcade machine in another, a poker table for weekly Blackjack, an Xbox and PS4 (or a Super Nintendo if you want to go retro) hooked up to a massive flat-screen, and a cabinet filled with addictive faves like Cards Against Humanity and Monopoly—will keep you and your crew occupied for days.

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How To Stage Your House Over the Holidays

November 3, 2015 By

Selling your home during the holidays doesn’t mean you have to hold back on the festivities. Let your home shine while attracting buyers during the most wonderful time of the year with these seasonal touches.

Deck the halls:

Don’t let selling your home stop you from spreading the holiday cheer. Subtle hints like a welcoming evergreen wreath at the front door, mulled cider brewing on the stovetop or hand-sewn stockings hanging from the fireplace awning gives the space a jolt of spirit.

Trim the tree:

Usually the most eye-catching piece of the living room during the holiday season, make sure your spruced-up Christmas tree matches the aesthetic you want to sell to potential buyers. If your living room has a clean-cut scheme with ivories and whites, for example, make sure your baubles fall under the same color palette.

Tone it down:

As tempting as it is to blow some lawn ornaments to celebrate the season, it’s best to go for a minimalist approach during this crucial selling time. Neatly highlight the defining elements of your home’s exterior with snow white lights or hang fresh garland with bright red bows from your rooftop or mailbox.

Warm up:

Before open houses, make sure your home feel as cozy as possible. Now’s the perfect time to light a fire in your fireplace and warm up your home. If your home is lacking the fiery centerpiece, turning up the thermostat to a comfortably toasty level gives potential buyers extra incentive to linger for a while to escape the brutal cold outside—and allows them to fully digest the best qualities of your home.

Tune up:

Fill up the hallways with contemporary holiday classics while potential buyers are roaming the halls. Make a mix of festive favorites: go old-school with Frank Sinatra’s “White Christmas” or Natalie Cole’s take on “The Christmas Song”…or just play Mariah Carey’s “All I Want for Christmas (Is You)” on a loop.

Feed the masses:

The best way to make somebody feel at home—potentially at their future home—is through their stomach. Whip up some holiday-themed cookies and mocktails to serve during your open house; the extra hint of hospitality will keep you in the mind of prospective buyers even after the last present is unwrapped during the holidays.

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Be My Guest: How to Get Your Home Guest-Ready in 15 Minutes

October 28, 2015 By

Anticipating some last-minute company? While you may not have time to scrub down the house, some simple tricks of the trade will make it look like you did. Prepare your home for the unexpected—even if the unexpected is your mother-in-law inviting herself over for dinner.

Take a whiff:

Burning a few candles around the abode will not only brighten up the space, but it will also upgrade the usual aromas of your home. Light up a rich Mahogany Teakwood in the den, or perhaps indulge your guests’ senses with a fresh Vanilla Bean scent in the kitchen.

Pillow talk:

Upgrade your low-key loveseats and couches with hints of color. Take decorative pillows and throws out of the closet and add them as accents to the coziest spots. Be sure to fluff them, and then watch as everyone sits back and relaxes.

Reduce, reduce, reduce:

Having a magazine or book at arms’ reach in every room may be convenient, but there are stylish ways to hide them away. Minimize your reading materials clutter by stashing them in a basket or bin. It instantly improves the ambiance of your living space.

Show off your green thumb:

Pick out a simple bouquet from your garden and proudly display it on the dinner table. Also, swap out the run-of-the-mill vase with an empty wine bottle to highlight your creativity and charming style.

Feng shui the space:

If you haven’t moved your couch since it was first delivered, now’s the perfect chance to rearrange and harmonize the room. Even the simple act of angling your furniture a few inches can make each living space look brand new.

Throw it down:

Every room needs an anchor—and for those who are missing one, a bright throw rug brings the space together.

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5 Creative Ways to Decorate Your Home for Halloween

October 25, 2015 By

Goblins and witches and ghosts, oh my! How many of these ghoulish creatures will you be greeting this Halloween? Hopefully you’ll have the candy and creepy (but cute) ambiance to avoid the “trick” end of “trick-or-treat!” If you haven’t yet decorated for the holiday, don’t worry. Here are five easy ideas for a “spook-tacular” home.

  1. Eerie Entranceway
    • Paint black jack-o-lantern faces on small, glass votives. Drop a flameless tealight candle in each of them and use them to decorate around your front door.
  1. Frightening Florals
    • Black calla lilies have a wonderful dark, purply color. Plant some in flower pots around your home for a gloomy look with an exotic twist.
  1. Raven’s Nest Wreath
    • Remember last year when you weren’t as prepared for Halloween? Nevermore. Grab a twig wreath from your local craft store and place a faux black bird in the middle.
  1. Black Cat Pumpkins
    • Paint two pumpkins, one smaller and one larger, all black. Stack the smaller one on top of the other, and add eyes, a nose, and whiskers. Add cat ears cut from card stock and stand back! You won’t want these bad boys crossing your path.
  1. Mummified Glassware
    • Whether you’re serving up a glass of pumpkin flavored punch or a dish of fun sized candy bars, dress up your glassware to match the mood. Tape gauze to the bottom of the cup and wrap upwards, tucking in an end piece at the top to secure it.

With decorations like these, you just might have trick-or-treaters flocking to your home—if they’re not too scared, that is!

 

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9 Way to Brighten a Dark Home

October 15, 2015 By

Your new home is in the perfect neighborhood and the price is right, yet there’s one thing that almost held you back from purchasing: the lighting (or, rather, lack thereof). Beat the basement blues by brightening your home with mirrors, paint and the right kind of custom decor. Here’s how to get started.

1. Paint it white! When it comes right down to it, other than adding more windows (which can be costly when you’re on a homebuyer’s budget), the best thing you can do to brighten a space is to ditch the dark colors and layer lighter hues instead. White will be the best to illuminate your surroundings, but any color on the soft end of the spectrum will do.

2. Although walls will make the most impact, choosing white for smaller decorative elements and flooring will brighten the room even more. If white walls sound boring to you, maybe the answer is hanging large-scale well-lit photos. This is an easy way to add luster, and pieces like these from Shutterfly will look stunning against colorful walls. Customized family photos also lighten the mood of the room by adding joy and personality. Make sure, though, that they are also framed and matted with white so no part of the piece contributes to the gloom.

3. Cover dark floors with light-colored throw rugs. Just keep in mind that white carpet can get stained easily, so read reviews before buying and take your shoes off at the door.

4. Mirrors bounce around what little light you do have. They also make rooms look bigger and more open, combatting the cave-like feeling of a dark room. Including decor that has a bit of shine will create this same effect on a smaller scale.

5. Choose lightweight furniture with clean lines. Overstuffed couches will make the atmosphere feel heavy, so elevate the environment by creating a lighter (thus, brighter) illusion with Lucite or slim furnishings made from pale-colored wood.

6. Play up any windows by raising the curtain rods and choosing airy, white curtains. This will make your windows look bigger and create a glow that bounces between your walls.

7. Make sure light bulbs give a white instead of yellow radiance. You’ll be surprised how much of a difference this can make!

8. Minimize clutter and keep your space clean. Pare down to the essentials to lighten the space, decrease shadowy corners and allow for an easy flow between rooms. Hide bulky jackets and shoes somewhere out of sight.

9. Vary your light sources with lamps, recessed lighting, pendants, and more so it isn’t as obvious that your light is artificial.
With these simple suggestions you will hopefully be able to turn a dreary dungeon into a fresh, cheerful home. Of course, you should always feel free to incorporate your own bright ideas!

By Julia Marchand

About Julia:

Julia Marchand is a home décor and DIY blogger for Shutterfly, where she shares her expertise and experiences on life as a new mommy and first-time homeowner. Julia describes herself as a vintage-loving gal who spends her free time sewing, crafting and reading in her quiet New England home. Follow Julia on her Twitter to discover more home décor tips & tutorials.

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6 Ingenious Kitchen Projects to Make It Feel Bigger

September 23, 2015 By

Does your kitchen feel cramped? If you want to create the illusion of a bigger kitchen without remodeling or tearing down walls, don’t fret. There are plenty of creative hacks for organizing your small kitchen. Here are some ideas:

#1 Declutter!

It’s possible that the reason your kitchen feels small and cramped is that you’re keeping a lot of stuff in it. Cookbooks, pots and pans, vases — these can all clutter the space. Take the time to clear off the counters and workspaces. To take the next step, declutter cabinets and shelves. Get rid of dishes that you rarely use and toss pots and pans that have rusted over time. This is a good opportunity to make room for new items or just free up space in general. Don’t forget about your floor space. If there are shoes or other items that don’t belong in the kitchen, now is the time to move or remove them.

#2 Add more white.

A dark color scheme can make small spaces feel more cramped or narrow than they are. If you have the budget, think about repainting your walls white or a lighter shade. If your cabinets are white, then transition the color onto your walls. If your cabinets are a different color or retain their natural wood grain appearance, now is a good time to paint them white. It creates a seamless, open feeling in your kitchen.

#3 Install additional lighting.

The more light in a space, the brighter and more open it feels. When you combine light with white, the light is reflected and makes the walls seem further away. Just make sure to install soft lighting. If you can, make the most of natural light during the day with windows. You can replace a single-pane glass window over your sink, for example, with its more efficient, double-paned alternative. It creates just as much natural light and increases your home’s efficiency. The cost of a replacement window is about $500 depending on the size you’ll need.

#4 Remove barriers.

Your island, bar stools or hanging lamps may also be the reason your kitchen feels cramped. Islands are great for baking bread or preparing meats, but if you rarely use yours, why keep it around? The same goes for barstools — keep them aside and pull them out when needed. Replace hanging pendant lamps with recessed lamps so you can avoid hitting your head. The kitchen shouldn’t have too much going on at once, so keep it focused on the essentials: countertop, sink, stove and refrigerator. Everything else should be open floor space.

#5 Do you need all the cabinets?

Do you use all of the cabinets in your kitchen? If you have cabinets around the entirety of your kitchen, there’s a chance their color and depth will make your kitchen feel smaller. If you don’t use them all, think about removing a few. If you do use all of your cabinets, think about replacing some with open shelving or putting in glass doors. As previously mentioned, white paint is also good for making the room feel less cramped.

#6 Geometric patterns help.

Geometric patterns can make your kitchen feel bigger. Stripes, in particular, can help draw the eye and make the room feel larger or taller than it actually is. Add a runner or rug with a geometric pattern. Or, if you have the budget, replace your current flooring with geometric tiles. The cost to install a ceramic tile floor averages between $900 and $2,300 depending on the square footage of the kitchen.

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Back to School: Home Office Essentials

September 3, 2015 By

Back to school season is in full swing, and that means your kids will be coming home with more and more homework. They will need a productive space to study, and your home office can be a good option. But the office may need a few essentials before it’s ready for the school year.

Get Good Lighting

Studying in the dark can strain your eyes or put you to sleep. To avoid the likelihood of snoozing during study time, you’ll want to have adequate lighting. Add a small desk lamp, a floor lamp, or a brighter bulb in your overhead lighting.

Create Comfort

Your kids will ideally spend a lot of time studying in the office. Make it comfortable. Invest in a good chair or a lumbar support cushion.

Keep Supplies Within Reach

Your kids may need pens, pencils, paper clips, glue sticks, and all of the things on their long back to school shopping list. Try to fit the necessary supplies in arms reach. Set up pencil holders on the desk surface, or dedicate a drawer to school supplies. If they can simply grab what they need, they’ll be likely to save time and stay on track.

Be Organized

People are more productive when they work in an organized space. So instead of throwing supplies and papers anywhere, make sure everything has a place. Invest in folders, binders, and a file cabinet (and make sure the entire family uses them).

Decorate

Creative work is done best in a visually pleasing space, so don’t skimp when it comes to interior design. Personalize the space and make it one where your family actually enjoys spending time.

Get your home office in shape. Your entire family may be more productive as a result.

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