How to Light Your Yard

As night falls, your backyard can take on a certain gloom that may be too inviting to unwelcome guests. By lighting your yard, you can have the peace of mind that your property is protected, and with the right kind of lighting, you can also enjoy additional decorative elements.

Select The Yard Lights

There are many kinds of lighting options available. A flood light may make sense by a garage, but it might also be too harsh for nearby neighbors. If you do invest in a floodlight, hang it so that the glare is only directly visible on your property and the light isn’t shining into any windows.

If a floodlight is too much, or you’d rather have more decorative lighting, consider lights along pathways or in the landscaping. Path lights and accent lights give off a bit less light than a full spot light or flood light, but they will illuminate your yard enough to see while you walk outside after dark or if you’re curious about a noise.

You can install electric lights which may be less expensive, but more complicated to install. You can also install solar lights which derive power from solar energy and automatically light up after dark. These are simple to install and often require nothing more than placing them in the ground where you wish the accent lights to be, or mounting the light to the wall if you’re installing a solar flood light or spot light.

Install Lights

If you’ve selected solar lights, you have little to do but decide where to actually place the light. If you’ve selected electrical lights, you have a bit more work ahead. Turn off the power before working to install the lights. Carefully follow the instructions of the manufacturer. If at all unsure, consult with an electrician or have your lights professionally installed. This will keep you safe and ensure your lights are installed properly.

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How to Make Christmas Table Decorations

The shopping is done, the tree is decorated, the presents are wrapped, but something is still missing. When all your guests gather around the table for the Christmas dinner you have spent hours preparing, what will they see? A bare tabletop? Let’s hope not. With a few simple touches, your dinner table can become a showcase for some beautiful Christmas decorations.

Centerpiece

The centerpiece will be the focal point of your table, at least until Aunt Mary starts telling embarrassing old family stories. While you can purchase a fresh or silk flower arrangement, a sculpture or figurine of some kind, or a potted poinsettia, there are other options that you can assemble yourself on a budget. Try filling a pair of clear glass hurricane lamps with cheap and colorful glass globe Christmas ornaments. You can also use a vase to hold peppermints or small red and green candies. Use the candy to support a classic taper candle or a small group of artificial flowers fitting for the winter season.

Napkin Rings

A great opportunity to add a personal touch to your table is with your napkin rings. Napkin rings can be a pricy investment, or they can be a creative outlet of your holiday spirit. For a basic approach, cut one inch segments from the cardboard tube inside your wrapping paper. You can cover these with the wrapping paper itself, or paint or color the cardboard. Hot glue a small ornament to the top of the napkin ring. Another option is to string festive beads or buttons on a piece of elastic. Whatever you create, your guests will appreciate the time and creativity you invested in this Christmas decoration.

Placecards

For large or small crowds, use placecards to not only help guests find their place at the table, but to showcase your holiday spirit. You can adapt gift tags to be placecards, or glue rectangles of wrapping paper on a stiff backing and write guests’ names on your homemade place card. Another option is to cut a Christmassy shape such as a star or bell out of cardboard and cover it with aluminum foil. A permanent marker will have no problem writing on the surface, making a lovely placecard.

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How to Decorate a Guest Room

Guests should be welcomed into a warm and inviting space, and your decoration in a guest room can help make guests feel welcome or more like an intrusion. When you decorate a guest room, be sure to think of as many small touches as you can to ensure your guests know you are delighted to have them – even if that’s stretching the truth a bit.

Accommodations

When decorating your guest room start first with furniture that is accommodating for your guests. If most of your guests will be young single friends or young couples, a futon and blankets may suffice. But if your elderly grandmother is coming to stay, consider a raised daybed or full sized bed to ensure her comfort (and safety.) Two twin beds are also more accommodating than a full size or queen size bed. A couple can easily stay in a full bed, but two brothers may be more comfortable in separate beds.

Welcoming Décor

The décor in the room should be tasteful and welcoming. You don’t want to overwhelm your guests with bright colors and odd lighting. Stick with the most traditional welcoming accents when you use pineapple décor – the pineapple was a sign of a home friendly to visitors historically, or use something more exotic but try to keep colors and accessories tame.

Thoughtful Touches

Be sure to include as many thoughtful touches as you can. For example, put black out curtains under the drapes in the room to keep it dark should your visitors be battling jet lag or fatigue from a long journey. If you have a coordinating bathroom, leave plenty of towels and washcloths out for guests to use. Also prepare a guest basket of travel sized soaps, shampoos and lotions you can leave in the bathroom cabinet until needed.

Be sure to offer guests a place to put their luggage. Keep an inexpensive luggage rack in the closet or clear a dresser or desk and cover it with a towel so that guests don’t have to dig into their bags on the floor which may be challenging for that elderly granny. Finally, be sure you provide an alarm clock in the room along with a bottle or two of water so that guests don’t have to feel their way around your kitchen or bathroom at night when they are ready for a drink.

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How to Decorate a Bathroom

Bathrooms are usually the last place you might think to decorate. However, your guests will most likely find themselves alone in this room at some point during their visit and will appreciate the special touches you take to make it inviting. By just investing in a few pieces of bathroom décor, you can achieve a look that will dazzle your guests and make them feel right at home.

Make a Plan

The first step is to plan what all you want to do to your bathroom. Consider your bathroom’s needs and your budget. Can you afford to completely renovate your bathroom, or does it just need a few touch-ups here and there? Whatever the case may be, think about a color scheme or a theme that you are interested in incorporating.

Big Changes

If you need to make big changes and can put the money required into this project, you might consider replacing your bathroom vanity. There are a variety of styles to choose from and this big change will have huge results on the look of your bathroom. A more affordable option to make a big change in your bathroom is to apply wallpaper or to paint the room. Choose a color that will go with the color scheme you picked out, and find a paint specially made to use in bathrooms. Be sure to protect anything you don’t want painted with a tarp and painter’s tape.

Small Touches

Even on a budget, you can add small touches to your bathroom that have a big overall effect. For instance, roll some clean towels and place them in a pretty basket on the floor. Or, perhaps you may choose to fill your basket with plenty of toilet paper for your guests’ convenience. Invest in some matching rugs and a toilet cover.

You may also choose to buy a matching set of bathroom accessories, including a soap dish, lotion pump, tissue cover, and even a wastebasket. Find a fragrant candle in a color that matches your theme, or fill a unique bowl with potpourri. Be creative! However you choose to decorate, your guests will appreciate your creativity and thoughtfulness.

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How To Build an Outdoor Fireplace

Your patio or deck is a special place, and perhaps it’s time to add the most impressive piece of garden décor, an outdoor fireplace. An outdoor fireplace offers warmth and comfort in all seasons, but is obviously used most in the fall and winter. Regardless of climate or personal use, here’s how to build an outdoor fireplace. There are many styles of outdoor fireplaces.

Portable Outdoor Fireplaces

The most simple (and least expensive) options are self contained fire pits or chimneys. A clay chimenea available from most garden centers or design centers can make a festive addition to a small patio, especially if it won’t get much use. A portable fire pit or brazier is another option perfect for smaller budgets or small patios.

Built-in Fire Pits and Ovens

The most simple built-in options are permanent fire pits, which are essentially a ring of well laid stones perhaps with built-in seating, or a cooking fireplace that closely resembles a brick oven.

Elaborate Outdoor Fireplaces

Custom outdoor fireplaces can rival indoor fireplaces with gas logs, mantles and designs. These are best designed and built by professionals or with careful study and design research.

Create a Layout

If you’re opting for a portable fireplace, you simply need to purchase one and find it a good home on your patio. You might also consider new seating or an appropriate (nonflammable) patio cover to complete your new outdoor lounge.

Elaborate designs are best left to professionals, but it is possible to build the more simply designed fire pits or ovens. Fire pits are the least expensive design and can be used for basic cooking. Ovens are more complex, but can be used for many forms of entertainment and baking.

In your layout, select a location for your fireplace. Be sure to keep it a good distance away from existing buildings, wooden structures and other garden elements. Also be sure there is enough room for guests about three feet away from the fire. Circular fire pits are best for entertaining, so be sure to leave room for seating all the way around.

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Buy Materials

If you’re interested in an oven, consider buying a prefabricated unit to install yourself or get the assistance of an experienced contractor. Fireplaces must draw correctly and regulations in your area may be strict on outdoor fire structures.

If you’re creating a fire pit, purchase bricks suitable for flames or use stones to create a fire circle.

Create the Fireplace

Assemble the oven style fireplace exactly according to instructions to ensure it works properly. To create a fire pit, dig a pit at your desired depth. Line it with stones, brick or gravel as you see fit. You can also leave it bare dirt.

Line the perimeter of your pit with closely laid rocks or bricks. Clear away any surrounding grass or overhanging limbs. Arrange seating, or build custom seating around the fire pit and your work is done! Sit back and enjoy.

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How to Throw a Garden Party

What better way to enjoy a beautiful day or the changing of the seasons than by throwing a garden party! Not only will your guests enjoy getting to spend time outside, they will also appreciate the novelty of a garden party and you will be able to showcase your patio or backyard that you have taken great pains to make perfect.

Furnish the Party

A party in your backyard will only succeed if furnished properly. Be sure you provide your guests with places to sit and a table or two to serve food and place plates and drinks. You can use patio furniture with matching chairs, or just pull out a folding table and cover it with a decorative tablecloth and invite guests to bring their own lawn chairs. Whether formal or casual, your party will center around the furniture.

Choose Your Decorations

To differentiate between a casual backyard gathering and a marvelous garden party, decorate! You can select a theme, such as a Victorian gala with frilly lace and tea and scones to a Chinese celebration with paper lanterns hanging from your trees. Cover your table with a festive tablecloth, use garden flags to add some color, fill terra cotta pots with brilliantly colored flowers, or set candles afloat in a pool. When your guests arrive, the stage will be set for a fantastic time!

Send the Invitations

Without guests, your party wouldn’t be a party at all. You can incorporate your theme into your invitations, but be sure it is clear to your guests that the party will be outside so they can dress accordingly. If there is a dress code or a theme you want your guests to participate in, be sure to let them know that information as well. To ensure you have a good idea of how many guests to prepare for, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to include an RSVP request.

Prepare the Food

For a garden party, your cuisine can match the theme, or you can assemble your favorite finger foods. Be sure you have plenty of cold drinks, especially if your party is on a warm day. Since your guests will be enjoying the outdoors, incorporate fresh food into your banquet, offering an assortment of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Have a Back-Up Plan

As with any out-of-doors event, you can’t control everything, and bad weather could send you scurrying. Be sure you have a back-up plan in case it rains on your parade. Be ready to move inside, to a covered porch or gazebo, or provide awnings or tents to keep your guests dry and comfortable. If the weather doesn’t cooperate with your plan, don’t despair! Your party will be a success if you keep a positive attitude and are flexible.

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How to Serve Gelato

The sweet frozen dessert hailing from Italy is similar to Ice Cream, but with a bolder flavor and fewer calories. Gelato is a wonderful dessert to serve at garden parties, showers, or birthday parties as it is festive, unusual and delicious. Here’s how to serve gelato.

Buy Gelato and Accessories

Wholesale gelato and accessories can be purchased over the internet. Many gelato retailers sell sorbets as well if you’re interested in a lighter frozen treat for your party. Purchase the amount of gelato you need along with the proper serving utensils. If you’d rather, you can also rent or buy a home gelato machine to make your own dessert the day of the party.

Keep the Gelato Frozen

Gelato is lighter than traditional ice cream, so it might melt more rapidly if not kept completely frozen. Store the gelato in a freezer around 30 degrees, just below freezing level to be sure it stays soft and fluffy rather than hard.

Arrange Festive Bowls

You can serve gelato in thin cones commonly found throughout Italy, or if you’d appreciate a more formal presentation, you can arrange any sort of bowl you’d like. Use champagne glasses, ice cream bowls, or even salad plates to serve the gelato to your guests.

Serve the Gelato

Gelato is beautifully textured in its container, especially if you freeze your own in an attractive serving pan. You might consider displaying and serving the ice cream in front of your guests rather than in the kitchen as the very confection itself can add to the festivities and decorations.

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