From My Desktop

This month is the first birthday of my website. Little did I realize when I started this project how important it would become to me. I also didn't realize how involved I would become with this project. This site has been in turn, a fun, frustrating, soul searching, hair pulling and very satisfying project.

Many of you have sent in emails of encouragement and praise, along with comments of criticism. All communications are appreciated as they all serve to make the site more accurate and useful to my visitors.

I have made some great friends with other webmasters, filled my spare time with the wonders of sharing my home decorating passion and kept my mind growing and expanding by learning the new skills needed for website building. As if all that wasn't enough, I have at the same time been able to augment my income through internet marketing. Because of this I have been able to enjoy many new experiences that otherwise would not have been available to me.

All in all, it's been a very good year. Thanks so much to all of you, dear readers, for all your emails. Because of your encouragement and support, I plan on being around for a very long time!

Your friendly neighborhood (even if you are halfway around the world) Home Dec Lady,
Gloria

The Creative Workshop:
Rethink Your Storage and Your Doors

This month, as an exercise to expand your creativity, we will examine doors. This is an area many of us take for granted. We move into our homes, take note of closets and storage areas, fill them up, and then usually never give them another thought (unless we open a closet door and everything falls on our head!).

Look at the different storage areas in your home; bedroom closets, bathroom cabinets, dining room sideboards and living room bookshelves. As an example, consider your linen closet. Is it stuffed with face cloths and towels that should have been discarded two years ago? Do you have towels you bought to co-ordinate with the color scheme that no one ever sees because they never see the light of day? Do you have beautiful sheets you only see when they are on the bed?

Now consider how you would arrange these linens if there was not a door on the closet. Look at how stores arrange linens to make beautiful displays. Would you enjoy displaying them with colorful baskets of soaps or potpourri among the sheets and towels scenting the space?

Think about your dining room. Is your grandmother's crystal collection gathering dust behind cupboard doors? If so, consider removing the doors and replacing them with glass fronted doors in order to enjoy the table settings you love so much. Don't just get them out for holidays and special occasions. Make a wonderful display area and enjoy your treasures every day.

Perhaps you have a small dark hallway that is closed off behind a door. Remove the door, paint the hallway with a bright happy color, put in a small seating area with good lighting, and voila! You have just created an intimate area for reading and reflection.

Not all storage areas have to be hidden. If you have shelving behind doors, consider removing the doors, paint the shelves a crisp white with perhaps the back wall a periwinkle blue. How differently would you store your items if they were on display? Would you create a beautiful candle display among your items? Would you arrange your glassware by color to please the eye? Maybe you would purchase a collection of vintage hat boxes to store your smaller items.

Remember, you bought the items in your home because they pleased you. Don't feel you have to hide everything behind doors. Bring them out in the open to be enjoyed. Remember, out of sight, out of mind. What is not seen is not appreciated.

I realize open storage is more work and takes more thought. However, if you have loved items that are rarely enjoyed, reconsider your storage and doors. You may find that some of the more charming nooks and crannies you create in your home are there because you removed a door.

Just walk around your home this month look at your doors, and ask yourself, "What if?"

The Creative Dozen:
12 Ways to Welcome Spring and Freshen YOur Home

Now that spring has finally arrived, we are all ready for a change. Throw open the windows, roll up your sleeves, and try some of these creative dozen hints to mark the end of winter and the arrival of spring.

1. Remove the dark, heavy winter comforters and replace them with lighter, brightly colored duvets and bed sheets

2. Place a new wreath made with spring flowers on the front door to welcome family and friends.

3. Buy a flat or two of pansies. Pot them up and place them outside by the front door. At the same time, bring some inside and use them as an accessory on the hall table.

4. Buy or make some floral throw pillows for your sofa or bed

5. If you are doing a complete spring cleaning, now is a great time for a new paint job. Whether it is a closet, one wall to add new interest and contrast, or an entire room, there is nothing like color to add a spring in your step and pop to a new season.

6. Clean out your wardrobe. Since you are going to change your clothing style, get rid of anything that is no longer useful to you. Stained, ripped, outdated, no longer fitting clothes should be discarded. Take an inventory of what you have for spring before you shop for new items. Following the rules above, discard any spring or summer items of clothing that are no longer useful. Once you have a clear picture of what you have, you will know what you need and can shop with a clear mind.

7. Take down heavy draperies and replace them with sheer or lightweight fabrics. If privacy and sunlight are not issues you have to deal with, consider using no window coverings at all and enjoy all the light you can get.

8. Get rid of clutter that has piled up over the winter. Don't ask me how, but I know clutter breeds. By making your rooms clutter free, you open up space and your rooms feel lighter and larger.

9. If you have heavy area rugs, clean them and store them away for the summer. Bare floors with a few throw rugs will feel cooler and cleaner in the spring and summer.

10. As spring flowers become available, be sure to bring them into your home. You can start with pussy willows and forsythia, move on to daffodils on through to lilacs. These are cheap easily available flowers, and after the dark of winter, their cheery colors and scents are a welcome addition to your home. Large bouquets of forsythia or lilac can fill a no longer needed fireplace with spring ambiance.

11. Change your artwork. Think about using landscapes, floral prints and any light theme for this season. Use light colored mats and painted frames to brighten the room.

12. Never underestimate the splendor of clean windows. Seeing the sun reflect into your room from sparkling glass will raise your spirits and add to your enjoyment of the season.

As the seasons rotate, use them to create a sense of peace and harmony with nature. Use your creativity rather than money to create a haven from the problems of the outside world for yourself and your family. I'm sure you'll agree, it is well worth the time and effort expended.

Dare to Dream, Dare to Hope, Dare to Believe, Dare to Live!

About the Home Dec Lady:

If you enjoyed this newsletter, visit my website and learn to develop your creativity and create the home you dream of by using my **free** online home decorating workbook.

To find out why and how I am building a web business visit the Mysite/Myself page on my website. I am having fun and building a good income at the same time. If you would like to do the same, check out this page while you are visiting my online home

Take the time to visit this site if you can use an extra $500 to $1000 a month

Do you already own a website? Is it producing income for you? If you would like some hints to increase the income from your site download this *free* Affiliate Masters course. Read what other website owners are doing to increase their monthly income.

All products recommended on this site have been actively researched and used by me. I only recommend products and services I use myself, and hope you find some new and interesting ideas for developing and using your God given talents and creativity.

Your feedback is always welcome and appreciated! Feel free to email me and let me know of your comments and suggestions now while your thoughts are fresh in your mind.

Please feel free to pass on this issue to friends and associates --just keep the entire message intact and unaltered.

Published Monthly “Creative Home Decorating" is a newsletter geared to the individual who dreams of creating the perfect home atmosphere of peace, harmony, comfort and relaxation.

Designed to help the frustrated decorator and creatively challenged, this ezine will inspire you to jump in and take a chance on your inborn talents. By doing this you will grow from the inside out.

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Gloria Daniels, Publisher
http://www.home-decorating-room-by-room.com