Decor Themes

Perk Up Your Work Space (and Mood) Easy and Cheap

The best and worst part of being a WAHM (work at home mom) is being home. As my second son quipped, "You don't work at home. You live at work." Wherever you work, environment impacts your attitude about your job. Here are easy, cheap, DIY ways to perk up your work space and mood!

* Take it seriously. Work-at-home folks don't succeed (or feel successful) often because they discount their contributions. This is your work space, no less than if you left home for a job. It's where you make money. If you're a home business, you're claiming it on your taxes. Treat it like the professional office space it is. Make everyone else do likewise. Remind them it's your office first and anything else last. Ergo, arrange so it works best for you first, others if possible. Or keep everyone else mostly out, if possible. You need that inner sanctum. Most of us don't have that luxury. Our offices double (triple) as other living spaces. Here's how to make the most of whatever corner you call "work space." Perk Up Your Work Space (and Mood) Easy and Cheap

How to Remove Wallpaper: Easy, Cheap, Green

In 2000, my husband and I bought a 100+ year-old home. In its long, colorful history, interior walls sported a plethora of coverings--paint, spackle, and wallpaper. Remodeling, we found four wallpaper themes, the earliest dating back possibly to the 20s. In 25 years of marriage, we've become adept at wallpapering, removing old wallpaper and treating walls. Here are tricks to remove wallpaper and treat walls, from 13 years of DIY home fix-ups. How to Remove Wallpaper: Easy, Cheap

Detroit May See Shipping Container Community Center, Hotel

Detroit gets a lot of negative publicity. Though some may be exaggerated, and the city has softer sides, poverty, ruined buildings, and crumbling neighborhoods are there. But one positive about living with a fair amount of urban decay is that there there are fewer barriers and more space to experiment. One Detroit group is pursuing a new, rather divergent idea: shipping container buildings. Detroit May See Shipping Container Community Center, Hotel

Cheap, Homemade, Green Spring Cleaning Tips

As days get longer and snow melts, my thoughts turn to spring cleaning: out with the old-man-winter accumulation and in with sunshine and spring-green-clean! Here are easy, cheap, homemade spring cleaning tips and earth-friendly tool swaps. Save money, labor and the environment with these solutions. Plain water, old rags, mild detergent, a broom, olive oil and lemon juice with elbow grease will clean, deodorize, freshen and sanitize as well as costly toxic chemicals Cheap, Homemade, Green Spring Cleaning Tips

Free Printable Easter Egg Patterns, Psanky Stencils

Easter egg coloring is an art form of its own. There are traditional Easter patterns, but one style defines the art: Ukrainian psanky eggs. Many Eastern European countries have egg decorating traditions. These ancient crafts create mosaic patterns in classic designs. If you'd like to try your hand at making psanky eggs for Easter, here are free online patterns, printables and designs. I've included printable traditional easter egg stencils, too. Perfect for Eastertide home decor!Free Printable Easter Egg Patterns, Psanky Stencils

Free Easter Crafts, Decorations, Printables

Whether you celebrate the religious Easter or just enjoy the eggs, bunnies and candy, the holiday is fun for young and old. Coming as it does in spring, Easter is a celebration of new life and nature. For kids, it's a great time to explore science concepts of plant life, insects and baby animals. Here are free printable Easter crafts, coloring pages and activities for classroom, homeschool or just family fun. Here are Easter-themed decorations for parties, classrooms and home decor. Free Printable Easter Crafts, Activities, Decorations