More Easy Tips for Waking Up Your Interior Decor

One of the main reasons so many people don't redecorate their rooms is not that they don't know how or they don't have time; it's the money factor. If you use the following tips, you can spruce up your decor and make some outstanding changes without spending a lot of money.

First, look at the basics of your room. Check out your big furniture pieces. Strip off any pillows, throws and items off table tops - you can put back some of it after you re-do your room.

If you have a boring beige decor, hop it up a little with color. Delegate your beige and brown pillows to the guest room and replace those boring pillows with colors that pick up little used colors in your room. It's a great way to meld a decor.

Shelves can do so much for a room. Aside from getting rid of clutter on table tops and giving a look of organization to the room, they can also be very useful for developing a sense continuity in your room design. The straight lines of the shelving will travel in the mind's eye along the line of the walls and ceiling and help ring your decor together.

A sculpture can enliven a room too. Choose something bright and fun - a real conversation starter such as a Govinder sculpture. There is no trick to choosing a sculpture, simply choose a piece that you enjoy looking at such as the "Strange Love" which depicts the love between a cat and a dog.

Use these tips and bring your room to life with a minimum of cost!

The Perfect Gift for Newlyweds

It's hard to find a good gift for newlyweds, you want to get them a gift that sends your best wishes for their new life together, however you don't want to get them a toaster or something impersonal like a gift certificate.

Instead opt for a gift that will carry a lot of meaning and add a touch of art to their home - give them a sculpture. A sculpture is way to give them a gift on several levels; you are giving a great way to spruce up their decor, you're giving a gift with a meaning and it's all wrapped up in a nifty piece of original art.

A great looking piece that will convey well wishes for the new couple is found in the Govinder limited edition sculpture titled "Lovers Rock". It features two artfully sculpted elephants that are holding a heart in their touching trunks. limited edition makes a very special gift since only a certain number of the piece are produced it's a good way to give a unique gift that they can count on as one of a kind, as each number in the series is numbered as unique.

If your newlyweds are using the principle of Feng Shui to decorate their love nest - they will appreciate the fact that this piece comes in a pair. You can also give this gift with a lovely plant such as a bonsai or other slow growing, long living plant that will your new couple years of enjoyment.

Giving a gift for newlyweds is easy when you give the gift of art.

Art Gone Bad!

No, we don't mean art that is badly done or will totally wreck your decor; instead we mean art that is done with the rebel or rebel at heart in mind. If you know a truly free spirit that marches to the beat of their own drummer - the gift of a thoughtfully chosen piece of art just for them will make a beautiful sentiment and show you really know what they like.

Govinder has a really fun piece titled, "Bad to the Bone" it features a stylized cat with bold colors emblazoned with a skull and cross bones. There is an image of a dog stamped on his side - in the fashion of WWII planes that stamped a mark for every enemy combatant they shot down.

Other pieces that are purely wild at heart include a free, running horse that embodies the spirit of freedom at its finest. Consider art with symbols that stand for freedom and free thinking such as wolves and dragonflies, both are common messengers that bring freedom with their presence.

Consider a limited edition piece. Limited editions are more than reproductions of original artworks, they are limited to a certain number, usually determined by the artist and then only that number of prints or sculptures is produced. Each one is given a unique number in the series and the final piece has been produced. The edition is over.

It's easy to find a piece of art that will embody the free thinking on your gift list - it's just a matter of narrowing down to a single piece that can be the difficult part when you have so many choices!

Never Forget the Special Someone that Loves Elephants

Got a friend that loves to collect dog or cat items? Those types of items are everywhere and you can find something to add to someone's collection whether it's a new figurine of an Irish setter or a small sculpture of a Persian kitty sitting pretty. But what about your friends that collect items dedicated to more exotic?

If you have a friend that loves all things elephant, there are some excellent ways to give them a unique gift that they will adore. With the old adage,"An elephant never forgets"; you can give your friend a gift of a date book or appointment book in a beautiful leather bound case.

A new writing pen with an elephant motif is another great gift. You can include a beautifully designed elephant print scarf. Jewelry with an elephant inspired design is now readily available. An elephant inspired brooch is a beautiful way to show your know what your friend really likes - even better include a beautiful African or elephant inspired scarf.

For the elephant lover that doesn't really wear jewelry or have need of a pen and appointment book, try a piece of elephant inspired art. Govinder has a gorgeously detailed piece that is exotically elephant inspired. In a limited edition of only 250 pieces in the series this reproduction of his original piece is full of detail and will absolutely "wow" anyone that loves elephants.

Titled, "Eternal Kiss" this extremely detailed piece features a stylized pair of elephants that are ready to get close at any moment. Both pieces are carved with tribal looking markings and this piece measures roughly 6.5-inches tall so it won't be a big space commitment and will bring an air of true elephant elegance wherever it is displayed.

Wake Up Your Room With a Splash of Color!

If you're tired of your boring old living room, you don't have to run out and purchase all new furnishings to give your room a new life, just add a little flair.

Flair for a room can come in many forms. Add an area rug to add some life to the center of your room. Make a cozy gathering corner for you and your friends by placing an area rug in the corner of your room and then adding a set of chairs and a table in the area. The rug will create invisible boundaries and help this area of the room seem separate from the rest.

Another way to add flair to a room is to add a splash of bold color. You can add color in subtle ways by changing out your pillows on your sofa to something bright and lively. Add a piece of artwork in your room that is vibrant with color such as a hand pulled seriagraph by Phillipe Bertho.

A simple yet brightly colored table cloth on an occasional table or a table runner on a coffee table are both excellent ways of bringing more color into your rooms and giving the entire room more life.

Last but not least, living plants that are vibrant in color such as a flowering hibiscus with its beautiful pink and white blooms will make an outstanding statement in your room. Silk plants are also a good decor item if you have a decidedly brown thumb where plants are concerned. Either way opt for lush green leaves and bright flowers for your room - you'll love the pick-me-up your room gets from adding just a touch of bright color.

The Power of Small Elements

When you're pulling together the entire look of a room, you can use small elements in your design to make the entire look blend and flow as a whole.

When you're adding pieces to your room. Consider the design impact of every single item you bring into the room no matter how small or needed purely for function. For example, if you find you need shelving, a great addition to any room are ornately scrolled brackets. You can do so much more with them than you might think. They can be used as focal points on walls, used for pure function to create shelving that is very individual to your decor, used to set off a fireplace mantel, draw attention to a doorway or highlight an artwork on your wall.

Another way to add a "little" flair to your room is to add a small mirror or even better a small collection of mirrors. Mirrors can do the job of adding the illusion of space to your walls as well as adding some character to your decor. They also reflect light and will automatically brighten a room.

Small statues work wonderfully in most rooms. Put them on a shelf or on a table beside a lamp. If you have a small collection small statues or sculptures, display them in a lighted curio cabinet for extra impact in your room.

There are so many ways to use small items to make your space more "you". If you have a love of small dogs for example, a small lithograph of your favorite breed will meld beautifully into your decor and your interior will still have your personal design stamp.

Think Ahead to Spring

Sure it's cold now but spring will soon be upon us and if you don't have time to go till up your yard to make a garden area, a great solution can be the creative placement of planters around your yard. Not all plants do well in planters but you can make a glorious springtime presentation in your yard if you choose your plants wisely. Whether you choose small, medium, large or extra-large planters, you can make a great display.

In a small planter, put delicate looking violets. For as fragile as they look, they are really quite hardy plants and if you're the type that doesn't remember to water your plants on a regular basis, violets are very forgiving. If you'd like something a little aromatic, try planting some lavender. It has a delicate scent that attracts hummingbirds in the early morning and late afternoon hours as well as butterflies and bumble bees. Two herbs that make a nice presentation in a planter are Rue and Feverfew. Both will produce a lot of leaves and masses of small delicate flowers.

Wild flowers also look nice in planters. When you buy the mixed packets, you are never sure exactly what you'll get but generally they begin blooming in the mid-to late spring and continue until the late summer. Bulb flowers such as tulips and jonquils do very well in planters and if you live in a cooler climate, they will thrive. In the winter, many people advise to dig up your bulbs and wrap them in dry paper and store them in a cool, dark area like a basement or a cupboard in your utility room.

Bring the blooms of spring indoors to your walls with a beautiful piece of artwork that is literally dripping with fresh colors. A gorgeous piece with flowers all around will bring the freshness of spring into your home.

Add Space With Shelves and More!

It's no secret that wall shelves can do wonders when you are looking to add some extra storage space to any of the rooms within your home. While this is true, wall shelves can also be wonderful when you are looking to find great ways to give your decor a little boost.

A great way to set off a wall shelf set is to display a single sculpture or perhaps a set of framed artworks. A single piece on a shelf will lend the idea that the piece is not only unique but also valuable. If you want to further enhance the illusion, choose a reproduction print that is printed on canvas and enhanced with brush strokes. To all but the trained eye, this type of print often is mistaken for an actual artwork. Other people just don't like prints and prefer an artwork on canvas. Printed reproduction piece or not. Many of the canvas pieces are signed by the original artist, just like the original painting as well, increasing the value in many cases of the reproduction piece, especially in the case of a limited edition run where only a set amount are numbered and signed.

If you want to add a touch of "you" to your room. Put a collection of sentimental photos or items on a wall shelf. You could include your now-grown children's first hand prints cast in plaster beside their own children's hand prints to show off both your kids and your grand kids. Other fun items include vacation photos, weddings and more. If it has sentimental value, include it.

Viva La Difference!

No one captures the beauty of diversity better than James Rizzi. His whimsical creations have been delighting collectors for years now.

He is best known for his 3-D artwork where he typically made an etching then printed it twice and hand colored it. One etching was then placed on top of another one and slightly moved over so the other etching could be clearly seen underneath. Windows in buildings, photos, picture frames and various other items would be cut out of the top artwork so the bottom artwork could shine through, enhancing the 3-D appeal of the artwork.

His other serigraphs include the highly detailed, "We're All the Same But Different" has a huge number of individuals with each one doing something different. All of the individuals in the artwork are at a party and each one is wearing something different and drinking something different from everyone else. There are people with flasks, glasses and bottles. This would make an outstanding addition to a living room or a central piece in your bar area.

This serigraph would make an equally good gift if you're looking for an unusual gift for a special friend. When you have a serigraph matted and framed at Gallery Direct, only museum quality archival items are used. The print is protected from touching the mat and therefore no acids can exchange in the papers so there is no break down of the papers used for both matting and the serigraph itself.

With the dark black outlines, a simple black frame would be outstanding for displaying this piece.Choose a double mat that picks up different colors in the piece and you'll have a memorable piece of art for your wall.

Tame Those Large Walls With Art!

Making a small room seem larger is a well-known and often used decorating trick. A less used but much needed skill when decorating your room is the ability to make a large wall with high ceilings seem cozy without making the room seem closed in or substantially smaller.

Putting up a large impact piece is one way to break up the monotony a large wall can sometimes bring to a room. A replica piece such as a Claude Monet classic "Poppies" done in a huge 42-inch by 53-inch artwork will make a stunning impact piece on your wall. The brightness of the piece with an elegant museum quality frame will not only give you the impact you seek for your wall space but an artwork that will last for years upon years to come because it is made from archival items. The print is also printed on canvas and then brush stroked to with a heavy bristled brush to give it an air of realism.

Claude Monet is a still a very popular artist for collectors, however he wasn't as popular in his day. In fact, his first showing of his impressionist art was so ill-received that a near riot ensued and his first outing as a professional artist was considered a total and absolute flop. Undaunted and completely believing in his style of expression, he continued to develop his loose style of painting and eventually influenced an entire generation of painters and continues to be considered the Father of the Impressionist movement to this day. If you don't want to do a huge impact piece, an alternate route you can take is to create a large impact piece from many smaller pieces.

If you have a large wall that is giving you a headache trying to incorporate it into your decor scheme, use these tips and use your wall to give your room some impact!

Build the Ultimate Collection of Oil Paintings

Any kind of art buff is sure to come across hundreds and hundreds of oil paintings in their lifetime. If you happen to be a fan of the look of oil paints, then you would probably benefit greatly from a look into the rich history of this painting method. Over the years, the paints as well as the artists may have changed, however the beauty and the depth that only an oil painting can provide will always stay the same.

In a nutshell, oil paint as the basis for all oil paintings consists of a drying oil that is rich with small pigments of color. This is a slow-drying process that happens to date way back into years as early as England in the thirteenth century. Some of the different ingredients to have been used in oil paints over the years include castor, linseed, soybean, safflower, walnut, poppy seed, hemp seed, sunflower and pine nut oils.

The beauty of oil paints for many artists is the sheer fact that these paints are so slow in drying that they can last in the open air to be used for several different sessions on the same project. Fans of oil paintings are also sure to agree that this is a medium with one of the best ways to blend colors.

A short list of artists who have been known to create some of the most incredible works of art with oil paints include Antonello Da Messina, Leonardo Da Vinci, Vincent Van Gogh, Giorgio Vasari, and Jan Van Eyck and you can get many of their masterpieces available through realistic prints on canvas.

The Perfect Gift For Newlyweds

When you get married, you are more than excited to begin your new lives together. After all, you and your partner are going to be able to build on something wonderful and new that you have created together. Hopefully, along with your marriage you will be able to move into a brand new home or apartment. In this case, you might even want to look into some incredible framed art pieces or sculpture to add to your living space.

While it is not always necessary to completely agree on everything as a couple, the same really does go along with your art purchases. After all, a mix of your two personalities and tastes is exactly what brought the two of you together in the first place. When you are on the hunt for pieces of art to express yourselves in your home, there is nothing wrong with looking for items that speak for the both of you. Some couples compromise and have "his wall" and "her wall" to give both partners a way to express their artistic tastes.

Some newlyweds will actually set up online gift registries for certain home items and gadgets that come from various department stores. Well, for the couple who happens to live and breathe art, there is nothing better than a gift registry of fine art and sculpture, which happens to exist at Gallery Direct Art! As your family and friends are beginning to prepare for your wedding, they can shop online from the comfort of their own home for artwork that you have already selected as a couple.

This is the perfect way for everyone involved to be completely satisfied. All of your friends and family members will have the satisfaction of knowing that you will love their gift, and you, the happy couple can enjoy the artwork for many years to come.

Great Gift for the Hard to Buy For Art Lover

Sometimes, nothing is worse than having a hard time when trying to figure out what kind of a gift to give the art lover in your life for a special occasion. Do you have a relative who is celebrating a landmark birthday? Perhaps you have a close friend who is going to be getting married or even moving into their very first home. No matter what the occasion may be, if they are into art, then it should be a "no brainer" when it comes to the gift that you should give.

Even though you may already know that the gift recipient that you have in mind loves various forms of art, sometimes it can be quite a bit harder than you would think to come up with the perfect gift. For example, you might know the particular style that they are fond of or even an artist or two that they really enjoy collecting. Yet, art is never something that you can end up picking out for somebody unless you happen to know them really well, that is, well enough to read their thoughts when they lay eyes on a certain piece.

For such occasions when you cannot seem to choose something for your art fanatic, the best possible option is a gift certificate for Gallery Direct Art. You can choose a gift certificate in any denomination, from $25 on up to $500. This way, you can be sure that they will be able to pick out just the right piece to go in their home or office space.

Turn Up Your Decor With Custom Framed Art

If you are spending a good deal of money on a particular art piece that you are simply in love with, then you are certainly going to want to make sure that you have a wonderful place for it in your home or office. Any time you are looking for the best possible way to display your art, you should really think about having it framed. Of course, you could always take your art once you receive it off to a framery to have the work done. But, that can take quite some time and you may even end up having to pay all sorts of extra shipping costs. In addition to that, there is usually nothing worse than having your treasured art in your possession one moment, only to have it off to be framed the next.

When you make your art purchase from Gallery Direct Art, you can choose the option to have your painting or print custom framed and then delivered to your home or office. Included in this beautiful framing service, you will get your purchased print along with a stunning, solid hardwood frame moulding, and picture glass. You will even receive all of the hardware for hanging so your artwork is ready to place in your desired space from the very moment that it arrives.

Custom framing is the perfect choice for the savvy art fan. You will also find that custom framing can be just right as a gift for anyone on your shopping list.

How Do You Spell Cozy? K-I-M-B-L-E

Have you ever had the chance to visit a home where you felt comfortable and cozy from the very minute that you walked in through the front door? Unfortunately, this is not a feeling that you can experience with every home that you visit, however it is quite possible when you stop by a home that is decorated with wonderful country artwork. If you have ever been in a home decorated with such a style, then you are already more than aware of the calming and soothing effect that such decor can have on the human soul.

If you are looking to bring some of that same country feel into your current living space, you can do so with the simple addition of one or more of the wonderful works available by artist Warren Kimble. One of the most celebrated folk artists of his time, Warren Kimble is very well known for his use of exaggeration and incredible, bold color. Whether you are a fan of nautical themes, cats, beautiful Vermont landscapes or fruits and flowers, you are sure to find a bevy of Warren Kimble designs that will speak to your soul.

The nice thing about many of the pieces created by Warren Kimble is that they really stand the test of time. You can rest assured knowing that a Warren Kimble that is purchased today will look just as incredible in your living space twenty years from now. All you have to do is find the right piece for your home and your personality and you are sure to become hooked on this artist!

A Great Gift for Valentine's Day

Nothing could be better for Valentine's Day than an artwork depicting the innocence of a childhood love letter. The masterpiece by Bob Byerley is available as a hand signed and numbered limited edition is titled "The Love Letter" and is reproduced as a beautiful giclee print.

It featured a girl in her teens grinning as she reads a love letter while her younger sister dies laughing in the background. The colors are rich and the whimsical feeling of the painting will delight everyone that sees this work. The painting is 16-inches by 20-inches and there are only 350 in this series, once those are sold, there will not be any more. If you're looking for a gift for someone that is both beautiful and fun for Valentine's Day, consider this painting as they will be thrilled and it would be even more special if you happened to have been childhood sweethearts as well.

As with the other artworks here are at Gallery Direct Art, you get to choose your matting and framing options. If you know the decor for the home you are buying this for, get the frame in a color to match the wood in the room it will be hung in. If you don't know or arent' sure, a good rule of thumb is to match the frame to one of the darker browns in the artwork itself so it will be self-matching and will blend easily into any interior design.

Give the gift of a fun memory, all girls remember that first innocent love letter.

Add Some Passion to Your Walls!

The artist Hessam Abrishami knows and his outstanding work of art has even released on a hand signed and numbered limited edition giclee on canvas. The piece is titled "Color of Passion" and it features vibrant colors and is a really striking piece. If you're looking for an impact piece for your room, this would make a great choice.

Giclee prints on canvas look like an original artwork. If you want the look of an original artwork without the cost, a giclee print is the way to go. Giclee in itself is a very interesting process for creating prints. The process of giclee was originally created to "proof" art prints to see if the print renderings were ready for mass printing but it was soon discovered the proof was as good as what was produced. The term actually describes any high resolution ink jet printer produced print. Most giclee prints are made with archival inks that are fade resistant and with pigments that hold their light fastness for years to come. Just as serigraph represents any fine art that was produced through silk screen printing methods, a giclee print was produced digitally through the use of an ink jet printer.

This particular giclee is printed on canvas and then mounted, creating a large finished piece that measures 30 inches by 60 inches. The vivid colors will lose none of their impact in the translation from original to giclee and best of all, this limited edition giclee is signed by the artist just like an original piece!

Artwork Fit For the King of the Beasts

Simon Combes is an amazing artist that turned his love of big cats into a large part of his art that he creates. He has a stunning work available in a 150 run limited edition. The piece titled, "In His Prime" depicts a young male lion leading his pride from a muted and dreamily colored background into a bright and sunny plain. You can feel the steam from the African day and the sheer heat that is depicted in this piece.

Simon Combes grew up in Africa and has a first hand knowledge of his favorite subjects, big cats. His beautiful animal portraits and sweeping landscapes earned him honors from The Society of Animal Artists, the Pacific Rim Wildlife Art Show and the Florida Wildlife Expo. In the early 1990s, Combes set out to paint a series of the world's largest cats for The Greenwich Workshop, a project which eventually resulted in the trade book Great Cats: Stories and Art from a World Traveller and included in the book is a collector's portfolio of limited edition prints.

His artworks are collected all over the world and he's a prized artist in both private and public collections. Part of Combes' mission is to raise awareness about wildlife conservation through his art. He is a large contributor and has served on the councils of several wildlife conservation organizations.

Now that you know a little more about this amazing artist, help the big wild cats stay wild and support his art by adding a limited edition piece to your own personal collection.

Spirit Bear- One Artist's Work Towards Helping Endangered Species

The sad truth is, some animals that we have known all of our lives may not exist when our children have children of their own. One artist in particular is working to try to change that.

The Artist Robert Bateman is an internationally known artist that was even commissioned to create a painting that served as the wedding gift for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles from the people of Canada.His work is also represented in the collection of HRH The Prince Philip, the late Princess Grace of Monaco and Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands. Bateman has had many one-man museum shows throughout North America, including an exhibition at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C.; most of these shows have drawn record-breaking crowds.

He has a beautiful limited edition giclee print titled,"Salmon Watch - Spirit Bear". It is a large piece measuring about 24-inches by 36-inches and is rich with color. Bateman's realistic portrayals of his wildlife subjects are outstanding in their clarity and colors. This artwork in particular is breathtaking and is only available in a limited edition of 180 prints.

Bateman's art reflects his commitment to ecology and preservation and he has worked tirelessly since the 1960's to educate the public through art and public appearances of the importance of environmental and preservation issues. Many of his limited edition print runs are used as fund raising efforts towards helping endangered species, such as the Grizzly Bear depicted in this artwork.

Easily Enhance Your Decor With Art

Happy New Year! Want to liven up your interior for 2008?

Livening up your interior can be as easy as adding a piece of custom framed art. Getting a custom framed artwork begins with choosing the piece itself. A good way to choose art for your decor is to pick a subject you are interested in or even collect. If history is your interest, consider getting an artwork that features a historically significant location that you've enjoyed learning about; if you have a collection of cats - consider getting an artwork with that as a theme.

Another way to choose an artwork is simply by the colors reflected in the piece. Before you start looking at artworks, sit down in the room you're going to be choosing a piece for and close your eyes for a few minutes. Open your eyes and look around - what are the two major colors in the room? Either or both of those will be the main color in your artwork. Now look around, what are a couple of the lesser used colors you want to bring up in the room? If you have a primarily off-white and dark beige room with dark red accents; you will want to choose an artwork with off-white or dark beige colors and you can further blend the artworks into your decor by choosing a piece that has a dark red accent within the piece.

Now comes the fun part, once you've chosen your artwork, you will want to choose a mat (in most cases, unless the artwork is on a canvas which needs no mat)or a double mat and a frame to match. The frame is the part most people feel a little "stuck" at; but in reality - it's the easiest part of your artwork to plan. If you're going for a wooden frame, look around your room and note the color of the wood used for your furnishings. Get as close to that color and grain of wood as you can in your choice of frame. If you want to opt for a piece with more of an impact on your wall, go for a darker stained frame that won't call attention to itself apart from your artwork.

Nervous About Buying Art Online?

You know that it looks odd, but you are not quite sure if you should say anything. Is this the feeling that you have gotten in the past when you lay eyes on a gigantic piece of wall art on display at the home of a close friend, acquaintance or relative? This is often times something that you will come across because many people are not exactly sure of the right size they should choose for the walls in their home or apartment. Lucky for you, since you have seen the damage that the wrong size can cause aesthetically, you can look into finding a couple of tips that should help you to choose the right size wall art or sculpture every single time.

Chances are very good that you are not going to be able to eyeball the position of every piece of art that you will be placing in your home. Some people will go ahead and begin measuring in order to find the right size for every sculpture or painting. While this may work for some folks, others really need a bit more of a visual aid to ensure that they are making the right choice.

Does this make you nervous about buying art online? Never fear - there is a very easy solution. In order to see if it will be the right size for your wall without overpowering it, you can always take a piece of paper measured and cut to the same size. Go ahead and stick this up to the wall in the position that you desire, then take a look at it from several different angles to see if it will work. If you're using several pieces to create a theme, you can use papers cut to scale and get a real feel for how it will look best on your walls. And best of all you can do this for any room in your home from the kid's rooms to the bathroom to your living room.

Use these tips and make your art buying easy - why pass up the great deals online when you can arrange and choose the best sizes for your walls so easily?

Tips For Using Your Art!

So, you have no problem at all when it comes to choosing all of your favorite art pieces to decorate your home with, but how are you with your hanging skills. After all, a painting is only as good as the look that it has once it is on your wall! The last thing you want is to have an incredible framed print or oil painting that you have been dying to get, only to have it hung up in a crazy manner on one of the walls within your home, apartment or office space. Luckily for all of those people who aren't sure how to hang up their wall art, there are a couple of tips that you can follow to ensure a great look every time.

Do you have a problem when you are trying to find just the right position to hang a piece of art on your wall? Sometimes it can be confusing when you are trying to figure out if you have something position too high or too low. A nice rule of thumb to go by is making sure that the center of the piece is right about eye level for the average adult. Certainly, you will have to tweak this tip from time to time depending on the size of the painting itself as well as the height of your room of choice.

Another good thing to look for is the amount of lighting that you have in the area that you are thinking of decorating with wall art. The last thing you want is for your precious piece of art to get lost in a room without proper lighting. In this case, you can always use accent lighting to boost the look of the wall space.

Last but not least, choose art works that you personally are drawn to. Don't choose a beige painting because it looks so great in your living room, get it because you love the subject matter - art should be an extension of your own personality - give the room your own personal touch using art!

Viva La Difference!

Have you ever just wanted to make a statement through your interior decor choices? Such a statement can be very easy with a smart and savvy art selection for any one of the walls within your home. Certainly, you are going to want to make a bit of an art choice that will speak of your tastes and personality. However, there is nothing wrong with stepping outside of the box every once in a while and doing something that is a little bit different than the type of art that you would normally choose for your home, apartment or even the office.

Sometimes, something as simple as a terrific grouping of framed art can be just the thing to change the entire look of a room. You are guaranteed to see that a wonderful grouping can be a fabulous way to draw the attention to that area, making a nice focal point for anyone who lays eyes on it. Finding a trio of framed prints by one of your favorite artists might be a whole lot easier than you would think, especially when you take into account how many amazing choices are available for shopping online.

If you happen to be a person who is somewhat animated, you can always go with a bold splash of color with your framed grouping. Although cartoon-like images might be the first thing to come to mind, there is no reason why you cannot have a selection of sophisticated pieces that really pop with color!

Getting Your Children Interested In Art

Have you happened to notice that your child seems to be taking quite an interest in how their room is decorated at home? Sometimes children are longing for something a little extra in terms of expressing themselves through their decor. When you find that your son or daughter is looking to have a say in the design and decor that goes into their bedroom, you might want to let them explore and see what happens.

It is true that you are never too young or too old to be interested in art. As a matter of fact, introducing your children to art at a very early age can help them tremendously in terms of creativity. Because art is such a lovely way to express yourself, it is no wonder why so many children become interested in all of the aspects of art. When you find that there is a gallery showing in your local area, why not see about bringing your child along with you? Don't be afraid to talk with them about all of the colors and different styles on display!

When it comes to their room at home, a terrific idea is letting your child choose the color palette. In addition to that, you can always go the extra mile by letting them choose some incredible framed prints to hang on their walls. You don't have to go with Disney art prints either, instead let your kids pick art that depicts children doing things they do too - running, playing, reading, even Trick or Treating. They might even be interested in a couple of small sculpture pieces. Art can be a great way to not only open up your child's mind, but a terrific way for the two of you to bond as well.

Accessorize Your Home Decor With Canvas Art

You do not necessarily have to be an art expert in order to know what works and what doesn't within your living space. Many times, people like to purchase art solely because it speaks to them and not just because somebody told them that they should like it or buy it. Once you find a certain style that you happen to be very fond of, you just might find yourself on a bit of a spending spree until you have gathered up quite a collection. When it comes to great choices in wall decor, you could see that canvas art will be one of your favorite choices.

Having a nice collection of canvas art in your living space can speak to you on so many different levels. You will have the feeling of comfort each and every time you lay eyes on your chosen pieces of canvas art. In addition to that, each particular piece is almost guaranteed to spark up all sorts of interesting conversations with the guests who have a chance to visit your home.

With some many artists choices available, it is no wonder that canvas art is so popular with those who love to use art to express themselves. You can always go with something breathtaking such as a Monet or even subtle with a Van Gogh. Still life, portraits, florals and more are all waiting for you in the incredible world of wall art. All you have to do is find enough room on your walls at home to display everything that you purchase!

Framed Mirrors For Your Home

There happens to be all kinds of ways that you can try to spruce up your living space whether you live in a house or an apartment.

Some of the tricks that folks like to use will include a fresh coat of paint, the addition of some brand new furniture, or even a cluster of brand new sculptures. However, have you thought of how simply wonderful it can be to add a gorgeous framed mirror to your home or apartment?

If you are a person who loves to decorate, then you might already know just how valuable a couple of exquisite mirrors can be to the look and feel of your living space. Mirrors can add a whole new dimension to just about any room within your home or your apartment. As a matter of fact, most design experts will tell you that the addition of a mirror to a smaller space can actually bring in the illusion that the room is much larger than it actually is.

If you are on the hunt for the perfect mirror to bring into your home, then there is nothing quite like an exquisite framed version. You actually have your choice of frames including imported wood veneers, natural burls, and hand-rubbed gold or silver metal leaf with an antiqued look. Go ahead and choose the size that is right for your space along with the perfect frame and you will have a new addition to any wall in your home that you can feel good about with every single glance.

Post Holiday Gifting -Limited Edition Sculptures Make Great Gifts

With the holidays finally winding down, believe it or not, many people are starting to think holiday gift buying thoughts for the 2008 season. If you want to get someone a gift they will truly adore - check out getting them a limited edition sculpture and put that down on your list to get for those people that are truly difficult to buy for.

Sculptures are idea art pieces to give as gifts because they take up no wall space and are not a space commitment besides a little bit of table top or shelf space to display them. Unlike a print, a sculpture is also a more intriguing gift for many people as the artist actually handled the piece and worked on it. For people that enjoy collecting a particular artist's work - this is always a selling point.

Sculptures can be whimsical, serious or thought provoking. If you're giving a sculpture as a gift - choose wisely as someone with a rather serious nature probably won't be as appreciative of a sculptured dog with "Bad to the Bone" emblazoned on it as your practical joke loving uncle who would absolutely love such a gift.

Another way to give a sculpture as a gift is to give a set of sculptures as a wedding gift. Many cultures consider the giving of pairs as a wedding gift a sign of your belief the union is a good one and the giving of pairs is said to being luck to the new couple. A great item to give any pair of newlyweds is a limited edition sculpture called "Strange Love". It is a stylized pair that includes a cat and a dog united by a heart (love).

Add Some Un-Color!

Sometimes all your interior needs is a little non-color to make your decor a little more alive. No matter if you've gone Shabby Chic or with a modern looking Eames theme in your interior, a splish here of white or a splash there of white will make your decor brighter and more welcoming. White is often jokingly referred to as the non-color as it is comprised of no colors just as black is comprised of a combination of all colors.

When you think "white" what do you think? Clean, calm and open. Those are all feelings you can bring to your room when you use primarily white pieces at regular intervals around your room. You can use items like white vases holding brightly colored flowers for a great contrast or choose white pillows to set off your sofa.

Also look towards your walls for help. A primarily simplistic piece that is mainly white such as David Brega's framed art print "White on White" is a cool choice that will incorporate the basic colors of your room along with adding that necessary bit of whiteness to your decor. The piece is a simple bucket with eggs on a country barn half door. The print is matted in a cream mat and is further accented by a sturdy frame in your choice of color.

If you're looking for an economical way to brighten up your interior, look around your room and switch out a few items in the non-color.

A Great Last Minute Gift

The real countdown to Christmas is here and if you need a last minute gift for a hard-to-buy-for person on your holiday list - consider a piece of truly functional art.

At this stage of the shopping game, there won't be time to wait to get a painting framed, so go for something along the lines of a sculpture and even better, sculpture with a practical function and you've got a winner of a gift.

|One piece to consider heavily is a Tim Herrick Moose Lamp. This working lamp is actually constructed from the antler of a moose. The image of a moose is emblazoned on the body of the antler and it's fitted nicely with a simple shade to give it a truly rustic look and feel.

The light itself has a soft and cozy glow and will meld seamlessly into nearly any type of decor style. This is an ideal gift for anyone that has a "country" decor in their home and even better, someone that loves the great outdoors or that is an avid hunter will love one of these unusual lamps.

It's not to hard to come up with a last minute gift. Just be creative and remember, everyone loves something they can use as a gift.

Put Up Some Holiday Cheer

The holidays are coming to a peak over the next week and if you're entertaining, up the tempo in your room by adding some fun holiday additions.

If you don't already have a holiday centerpiece, either purchase a ready-made one or your can make one simply yourself. You will need only a pine, styrofoam or grapevine wreath (available at your local craft store and some dollar stores) and then some holiday-esque items to decorate it with. Let your imagination go wild. You can use tree decorations on your wreath, strategically placed with a glue gun, frugal types can use a metal pot scrubber (new, not used) and unroll it. The metal pot scrubber will wrap around one 12-inch wreath very easily - use a staple gun to hold in place. The glistening of the metal pot scrubber will actually set a fun holiday tone, especially over a metallic paper wrapped styrofoam wreath.

Another fun addition you can make is on your walls. Replace Aunt Betty's masterpiece she gave you for your walls just for the holidays with something that rings out holiday cheer. A Kinkade is a wonderful choice for holiday spirit with his portrayals of winter nights with warm homes alight, just waiting for a visit. Also, hang mistletoe around your home, stash it away above doorways and create some small, fun signs with arrows pointing up and watch the amused looks of your guests.

Make your home a place full of holiday cheer this season and show your spirit on your walls!

Fantastic Housewarming Gift Idea

If you happen to have a friend or family member who is near and dear to your heart that is moving into a brand new home, then you are definitely going to want to make sure that you give them an amazing housewarming gift. Such an incredible gift will be cherished and talked about by them for many years to come. So, what kind of a gift are you going to buy for their house to make such a lasting impression?

A truly fabulous gift idea that many individuals tend to overlook for a housewarming present is a beautiful canvas print. This is really a nice idea that your gift recipient can use to hand on one of the walls within their new home! If you know their tastes very well, then you should have no problem at all picking out a terrific design that they are sure to treasure. Perhaps a hand signed and numbered limited edition Bonnie Marris is something that is just up their alley!

Morning Run is the name of a breathtaking Giclee that you can order up in two different canvas sizes. You can send your gift recipient this beautiful piece in either the thirty by 42 inch size or the forty-five by sixty-two inch unstretched size. They may have already told you that they are looking for a stunning piece to hang on a certain wall. If so, then your recipient is definitely going to enjoy every single inch of this stunning piece depicting horses.

Celebrate the Good Life

Are you on the lookout for an amazing piece of art that you can bring into your home? Maybe you have been searching for a nice piece that will have the ability to make you smile each and every time you have the chance to look at it as you walk by. The great thing about art and sculpture is that you do not have to be an expert to know what makes you happy. When you want to bring a beautiful piece into your home, you might just find that a Paul Horton sculpture will do the trick.

Full of whimsy and plenty of ability to spark your imagination, each and every Paul Horton sculpture is just right to bring into your home. Whether you are already a collector of fine art and sculpture or if you are just starting out, you are guaranteed to find great joy with the purchase of one of these incredible pieces. You even usually have the choice of getting each of the Paul Horton sculptures made from either resin or bronze. Make your choice and you will be well on your way to a piece that will bring you years of happiness and a wealth of compliments from all of your friends and family members.

The Paul Horton limited edition resin sculpture called The Good Life is a really nice piece that is just right for your family room, den or even a special spot in your bedroom. The simple yet interesting home and attention to detail will command compliments from everyone that lays eyes on this little masterpiece!

Warm and Cozy - Thomas Kinkade

You might have fond memories of a painting that your parents had, or you have always been on the lookout for the kind of painting that seems as though it has been in your family for years. One of the things that mark a truly wonderful painting will include the ability to draw people in, making them feel as though they have had the chance to look at it and appreciate it for years and years. If you are in search of such a painting that will have a soothing affect on your soul, then you might just find that there is nothing quite like the detail of a Thomas Kinkade.

Some folks actually say that a Thomas Kinkade print will have the ability to draw you in and make you feel as though you have been transported to another time and place. Many people are even very familiar with this works that are shown frequently during the holiday season. Most of the winter scenes by Thomas Kinkade are quite popular for those who like to think of old fashioned holidays at home. Whatever your reason may be for purchasing a Thomas Kinkade print, you are guaranteed to be very pleased with your purchase.

The Rose Gate is a purely stunning limited edition Thomas Kinkade print that you can get handsigned and numbered. The colors in this piece really come alive, almost making the trees look as they are swaying in the breeze. This canvas print is going to be just right for your home or apartment.

Young and Old Love Disney

It is a known fact that there are just as many adults as there are children who enjoy anything and everything that is Walt Disney. This could be due to the fact that all of these adults grew up with Disney, or perhaps they really enjoy it because their own children do. No matter what the reason may be, it is just a fact that you are never too old for Disney!

If you are a big fan of anything and everything Disney, then the chances are very good that you have paid several visits to the theme parks, watched all sorts of the movies and are also quite familiar with most or even all of the animated characters. You might even be a collector of such items as Disney collector pins or even animals from their incredible line of plush toys. Well, when you are such a fan of Disney, then you might also want to look into the purchase of a wonderful limited edition print that you can be proud to hang within your home or apartment.

Perhaps you happen to have a favorite Disney movie that you enjoy watching over and over again. If so, then this is a magnificent idea for a print. All of the prints that are available are numbered and you can even get them already framed upon arrival. Spruce up an empty wall within your home with a limited edition print from movies such as Cinderella, Peter Pan, Finding Nemo, Alice In Wonderland and many others.

New Art for a New Year

Start thinking ahead to 2008 and give your walls a fresh new look for the new year. When you're putting together your decor, you may feel a little intimidated about choosing a large artwork for your walls. It doesn't have to a Renoir reproduction to add a touch of style in your room. What it does need to do is make you feel comfortable with the subject matter depicted and the overall essence of the artwork.

An easy way to find a painting that will meld right into your decor scheme is to look around your room and write down two main colors and one or two secondary colors you've used in your design scheme. Try to incorporate an artwork with at least one of the main colors and one of the secondary colors and you'll have a large piece that will go well with your room off the bat.

Go for a framed artwork that looks nice but isn't too ornate. Large, heavy wooden scroll worked frames are certainly elegant but they can detract from your artwork, particularly if it is done in colors that are of the lighter variety.

For a soft look in your room, go for the blended softness of watercolors. For a sharper and more modern look, the bright colors of an acrylic masterpiece can't be beat. Prints translate well to any of the three main mediums, watercolor, acrylic or oils. It's all just a matter of the look you want to convey in your room.

Use these tips and choose a new artwork to ring in the New Year and a new look to your room!

Simple Pleasures - Primitive Art!

You don't have to live a cave to enjoy primitive art. The sharp black lines and bright pigments used to create these reproductions inspired by neolithic cave drawings will meld nicely into any decor scheme. Alision Dearborne has captured the look of the primitive style with a touch of modern design. She has two outstanding prints that will look marvelous on your walls.

The first is a piece titled, "Freeing the Souls" and depicts two maize and light yellow colored bison running and three wild horses running the opposite direction. The colors used in the horses run from the same scheme as the bison along the color palette to a gorgeous gray-blue. Bold black lines accent the delicately drawn hooves and legs of all five animals in this piece.

The second piece is done in complimentary colors to the previous artwork and is titled, "Jewel". This beautifully done artwork features a running wild horse done in muted tones of brown and golden yellow with a vibrant gold and purple background.

Displayed together on a wall, these two primitive artworks will liven up your decor and bring a beautiful splash of gentle color. Both of these artworks are part of hand signed and limited numbered edition. This means not only are you getting a one-of-a-kind piece with a unique number, you are also getting an artwork that was signed by the artist herself.

If you want to add artwork to your decor that are a little different from the run of the mill flowers on tables in vases and landscapes - go primitive!

Revamp Your Fireplace!

Bored with your fireplace? In the beginning, your fireplace might have been the selling point for your home but with most people their fireplace because the key point in the room they really aren't sure how to decorate around. You can't move it and it may seem that you're very limited as to what you can put around or on a fireplace.

First of all, what may be bothering you about the fireplace isn't actually the fireplace but the mantle over the fireplace. The mantle around your fireplace can make or break your room. Is yours dingy and worn looking? Don't fret about it-just replace it. You can choose either a 3-sided mantle that will go across your fireplace and down each side to the floor or just a short mantle that will go across the top of your fireplace. Simply improving the mantle will make a lot of rooms look instantly better.

Besides your mantle, you can upgrade your fireplace screen. Your fireplace screen doesn't have to be boring old metal that is painted black. You can get a myriad of styles to choose from such that will range from iron scroll worked patterns to the more traditional tightly woven screen.

For a dramatic effect, put a large mirror over your fireplace. It will have a dual duty of reflecting light from the fireplace and the room as well as making the room larger. Another beautiful option is to get a large artwork and hang it over the fireplace. A limited edition print will make a beautiful statement choose a cozy theme to add even more warmth to your room.

It's easy to update your fireplace if you know the basics. Use these tips and make your room with a fireplace the cozy, comfortable place you always knew it could be.

Make Your Office Space POP!

There could quite possibly be nothing worse than an office space that is dull and dreary. Whenever you are sitting in such a room, it is only natural that you will feel as though you are being weighed down. In order to have an upbeat feeling in your office that will inspire you to work, you may want to think of mixing things up a bit. This could mean everything from the addition of a plant to a gorgeous piece of wall art.

Depending on what your particular tastes may be, a nice piece of artwork for your office could either be subtle or bright. When it comes to color you can always go with the particular pattern or scheme that speaks to you first. If you happen to find a piece that makes you smile from the very second that you look at it, then the chances are very good that it will bring you plenty of joy and inspiration when placed in your office setting.

If you long for the days when you can relax and enjoy the open air of the west, then there is really nothing better than a limited edition Bill Anton giclee on canvas. Since Anton is well known for capturing the west in a natural and almost lifelike state, it is only right that you would fall in love with one of his pieces from the get go. "Cottonwood Dreams" is always a good choice for the lover of the outdoors, complete with a horse quietly grazing under a majestic cottonwood tree. With such a delightful piece of art, your office will never be dull and drab again.

Getting Interior Decor Ideas

Have you gotten inspired by one of the many shows on television that feature room make overs? Looking around your own home and deciding you need to make some changes? It can seem daunting but you don't have to call in a designer - you can do it yourself - you just need to find inspiration and here are some great places to start:

Print
Magazines are a great place to start. Look in such periodicals as Better Homes and Gardens or one of the number of design magazines out there that profile all makes and manners of decors. Make yourself a little scrap book of pieces you like. It doesn't have to be anything formal, a spiral notebook with the title "Living Room" or "Kitchen" on the page is sufficient. Then as your find pieces you like add them the page of the room you want to put the piece in and you'll soon see a lot of great ideas coming together.

Television
With the number of home decorating shows as well two major networks, Style and HGTV dedicated to better interior design; you can get some fabulous ideas for changing the look of any room in your house and in most cases, save money by learning to do certain things yourself, like make your own draperies and pillows.

Retail Stores
Visit furniture stores and home design stores. Pick up a few of those free paint color samples. You can use those to make sure you get the colors you want to use right for your room. It's also a good idea for comparing how different colors look together.

Online
You can get tons of good ideas online - it's just a matter of looking carefully. Found an art object you would love to incorporate into your own decor scheme? Look at how it's displayed on the website. Make note of the tables used to display a sculpture or a sofa underneath a fine art print in a gorgeous frame.

Use these simple ideas and rev up your own interior decor - it's easy!

Gifts of Love!

It doesn't have to be Valentine's Day in order to purchase an amazing gift such as a Berit Kruger-Johnsen creation. Although, with the wonderful use of red and the romantic feel that these terrific paintings happen give off, it almost seems as though every single day of the year is February the 14th! Such a painting is just right for the special person in your life no matter what the occasion may be.

Perhaps you are going to be celebrating something incredible such as a one-year wedding anniversary or even an engagement. Any one of the beautiful paintings by Berit Kruger-Johnsen will definitely be appreciated and much admired by your loved one. You may even find that you really need some sort of a pick me up in a certain room of your home or apartment. The perfect placement of one of the paintings in this collection can bring a completely different look and feel to your space. You should be warned however, anything created by Berit Kruger-Johnsen has been known to become highly addictive, causing many people to want to purchase several others for other areas of their home!

The Dreams Of Love happens to be the kind of a painting that really brings about quite a bit of conversation by everyone who has the chance to view it. When set up in your living space, you will certainly find that many of your guests will enjoy gazing at this painting for a while. Be prepared to get a plethora of compliments on such a wonderful art selection once you any one of these painting in your home.

Designer Touch Your Office Space

There could quite possibly be nothing worse than an office space that is dull and dreary. Whenever you are sitting in such a room, it is only natural that you will feel as though you are being weighed down. In order to have an upbeat feeling in your office that will inspire you to work, you may want to think of mixing things up a bit. This could mean everything from the addition of a plant to a gorgeous piece of wall art.

Depending on what your particular tastes may be, a nice piece of artwork for your office could either be subtle or bright. When it comes to color you can always go with the particular pattern or scheme that speaks to you first. If you happen to find a piece that makes you smile from the very second that you look at it, then the chances are very good that it will bring you plenty of joy and inspiration when placed in your office setting.

If you long for the days when you can relax and enjoy the open air of the west, then there is really nothing better than a limited edition Bill Anton giclee on canvas. Since Anton is well known for capturing the west in a natural and almost lifelike state, it is only right that you would fall in love with one of his pieces from the get go. "Emerald Oasis" is always a good choice for the lover of the outdoors, complete with rolling mountains, a beautiful water setting and majestic horses. With such a delightful piece of art, your office will never be dull and drab again.

Lift Your Decor and Your Mood

With the holidays sometimes brings depression. Many more people feel their loneliness and feelings of emptiness amplified around the holiday season. Some people say this is due to more people not getting regular sunlight and it's a seasonal increase in the occurrence of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), a disease that occurs brings depression and a general lack of incentive.

One thing you can do to avoid the holiday and seasonal blues is make sure that you're eating right and getting an adequate amount of sunlight and exercise. A brisk 10 minute walk, preferably during daylight hours will go a long way to making you feel better.

Another tip for beating the winter blues is to change your living space a little. You don't have to throw out your existing furniture or bring in an expensive suite of furniture, the goal is to figure out how to best use the pieces you've got. If your room seems small, you might have too many pieces in your room or you might simply not be taking advantage of your best use of space. A whimsical artwork in the form of a print or a sculpture displayed on a table can also add a good vibe to your room.

Some people like to feng shui their rooms to bring balance to not only the room but to themselves. You can also invest in a lamp that has a light range in the same range as sunshine. Many individuals report that these type of lamps alleviate their symptoms of SAD, along with making lifestyle changes such as cutting out junk food (which can create emotion crashing sugar highs and lows) and adding some physical activity to their daily routines.

Designer Secrets For Bringing Ceilings Lower

Does your home have really high ceilings? That can be a real decorating challenge, if you're not careful you can wind up with a clutter on your walls all the way up to your ceiling.

One way to let your decor speak for itself is to create the illusion that your ceilings are lower than they actually are. One way to bring that white ceiling down a little is to add something of interest on it. Items such as tin ceiling tiles which look heavy but are actually very light will add a big element of interest to your room. You can also use a darker color of paint on your ceiling and use a texture stamp to help bring your room in a little closer. Resin tiles that can be painted will also look stunning on your ceiling.

Use larger artworks on your walls and hang them a little higher and you'll also trick the eye into thinking that the room isn't quite as tall as it actually is and you'll be making good use of your wall space without cluttering your room. Boarders placed around your ceiling will also help bring your room in and make it seem more cozy and warm. Stick to darker and neutral colors such as off-white, dark beige, lightest brown, goldenrod are all good choices for creating the illusion of a lower ceiling and will make your room feel much more comfortable.

Use these tips and with a minimum of work, you can make your uncomfortable room with high ceilings and turn it into a comfortable feeling room that you'll look forward to spending time in.

An Artfully Beautiful Bedroom

Just because your bedroom happens to be one of the rooms within your home or apartment that most of your guests might not see, there is no reason why you cannot fill it up with some of your favorite art. You are sure to be very pleased with your bedroom once you have a couple of amazing strategic locations. All it takes is a little bit of consideration of what you might be looking for and a couple of empty spaces to fill up!

When you begin the process of choosing a couple of different pieces, you might want to begin by figuring our just what areas you might want to use to place your art. If you happen to have a big, empty wall space, you can opt for a wonderful large impact piece of even a nice collection. You might even find that you can add a nice sculpture on an empty bit of shelving or even on a corner of your bureau if you have a little room to work with.

Go ahead and begin your hunt for some of the pieces that speak to you and your tastes. You might find that you will want to go with a very dramatic piece that stands out in your room. Often times, straying from your current theme can add a bit of whimsy to your bedroom that can give you an incredible feeling each time you look at it. Feel confident in your choices and have fun with your choices and you should see that you will end up with the artful bedroom of your dreams.

Adding Your Own Personal Touch

One of the biggest keys to having a unique decor in your home is to add personal touches that make the look truly your own. A good way to add your own flavor to your interior design is to find an artwork that really speaks to you and incorporate it into your room.

If you're not sure what type of artwork to get, write down the three main colors in your room and get an artwork that features at least two of those strongly. If you're a collector of cat related items, get a cat themed artwork for your walls. Religious themed artworks comfort many people with just their presence. The selection is huge and if you know basically what you'd like to see on your walls, it will go a long way to helping you narrow down your selection.

Remember, art doesn't have to hang on your walls. If you don't see any wall space that would look good with an artwork added to it, consider adding a sculpture to your room. A David Schluss piece will add a good deal of vibrancy to your room. A sampling of his works will inspire you to become a collector of his work. One piece that you will find inspiring is titled, "Love Dance" and features two figures dancing a vibrant step that nearly leaps out of the frame and will make a great conversation piece in your home. Another vibrant piece titled, "The Dance" is another spirited piece that features two figures also stepping to a lively beat.

Other personal touches include a favorite plant in a hand painted pot. Photographs from family gatherings and vacations that are framed in the same type of frame and clustered together on a wall will also make a nice impact for your decor.

Bad to the Bone?

There happens to be a very big difference between adding a good piece of sculpture to your living space and adding an incredible piece of sculpture to your living space. When you are looking for an outstanding work of art for your home, apartment or office space, the best idea is to make sure that you do a decent amount of shopping around in order to find the perfect piece that speaks to you. This way, each and every time you glance at it, you will have a unique and wonderful experience that only the perfect sculpture can bring. This is true to if you're choosing the sculpture for a gift - don't buy the first thing you run across, wait until you find something that truly tickles your fancy.

As far as choosing your sculpture, you should keep in mind that it is always best to go with exactly what you like. This means not having to worry about whether or not the sculpture that you pick matches your current decor. After all, some of the most amazing works of art will end up being the ones that really stand out against everything else that is located within the room. You might even find that you will enjoy being on the hunt for a certain piece that happens to differ quite a bit from everything else that you currently have.

To get your hands on a terrific sculpture that will speak to you as well as all of your guests, you might want to look into the collection created by Govinder. One particular piece that is interesting and quite unique for any space is called Bad To The Bone. With the interesting design and splash of color, this is guaranteed to be a sculpture that you will be thrilled to look at each time you walk into the room.

Adding Feng Shui Elements to Your Bedroom

If you've been wanting to introduce the design style of feng shui to your bedroom it can be done easily with just a few elements.

Feng shui is basically the art of object placement around a room that has been practiced in China for over two-thousand years. It is also about balancing the feeling of your room so it feels that energy flows through it with careful attention to not only the placement of the objects but also the materials that every object is made from. Using the feng shui technique is also known as "curing" the ills of the room.

Iron is important element in feng shui as it brings healing to the room. An iron bed is a great way to bring restorative vibrations to your room and also have pairs of as many objects as you can. Pairs of book ends, pairs of pillows, a nightstand on each side of your bed, artworks and shelves are all items you can consider in pairs. Pairs are said to bring harmony to the room.

A pair of iron lamps will also bring a good cure to the room. Lighting is an important "cure" in feng shui. Bright lighting will cure bad moods and low lighting is used to bring warm feelings to the room or when harmony is needed between two people.

And those are just a few of the basics for adding the magic of feng shui to your bedroom. Add a little harmony to your bedroom and experience the "cure" and balance it brings!

Turn Your Little Girl Into a Princess!

Do you have a little girl that's been very good this year? If she's ready to move up from a toddler room to a room of her own, treat her like the princess she is.

Walls, done in a soft hue, like pink, or yellow or pale lilac, are a perfect start. Window treatments that are long and dreamy are a perfect choice, or even faux window frames that make the window look like a castle’s window. Faux treatments on one wall, or a portion of all walls to look like stone would be a wonderful touch as well!

If you aren’t interested in buying a whole new bed, consider making a canopy that hangs from the ceiling above the bed. This is easily accomplished by either painting, or covering (with batting and fabric) a piece of light but sturdy wood, then attaching “curtains” of fabric to the back and attaching that to the ceiling towards the head of the bed. Little touches in the accessories for the room will go a long way too! Sweet, tiffany style lamps in matching colors, frilly throw pillows, and even a pretty rug are great touches, that won’t break the bank.

Wall hangings are a great idea too. Consider a piece like the Disney Open Edition Print: Cinderella. Cinderella is the ultimate princess as far as most little girls are concerned and what little girl wouldn't love to be a princess too? This print would be a perfect finishing touch for your little princess’ room and give her a great print to gaze at while she lays in her bed and drifts off to sleep.

Art for the Bathroom?

Yes, you read that title right.

When you are making some decorating choices around your home, you really want to be sure that you do not neglect your bathroom. If you stop and think about it for a minute, you will find that the decor in your bathroom can make you very proud of your living space. After all, the bathroom happens to be one of the places within your home that gets used by many of your visitors. Making sure that you have a bathroom that is decorated with amazing art can bring you a lot of compliments.

A little bit of art in the form of a painting or a sculpture can transform just about any bathroom from a sterile and uninviting environment to a room that is comfortable as well as interesting. If you already happen to have a particular theme going within your bathroom, you can always find an incredible piece that can bring out the theme a bit. A nice aquatic theme can be accented with a wonderful painting of a seascape or even an underwater oceanic scene.

You can decide if you want a large piece on the wall if there is room, or perhaps even a collection of smaller pieces if you are working with a tight space. A wonderful canvas painting with a bit of size for your bathroom that you might love could come from the David Thimgan collection. Many people adore the peaceful seaside and port views captured in these paintings, and you can enjoy it in your bathroom as well!