Clocks
A clock is a useful addition to any room, whether it is a wall clock in the kitchen, a
mantel clock in the sitting room, an alarm clock in the bedroom or an unusual clock in
the hall. Some clocks even double as notice boards or chalk boards – making it even more
practical wedding gift and somewhat unusual.

Let them eat Cake!
Pretty cake stands make a wedding gift that can either be used on special occasions or
whenever cake is made to turn a lovely cake into a special occasion. There is a lovely
selection of cake stands available now from tiered cake stands, tall glass cake stands,
decorative tall stands, floral cake plates – the variety is immense.

Kitchen Utensils
Kitchen utensils are not necessarily a common wedding gift but kitchen utensils are
needed in every home and will be an item that every home-maker needs. Choose a set of
Elevate kitchen tools by Joseph Joseph that come in a box – brightly coloured and with an
innovative weighted handles that ensure the head is always lifted off the surface when the
utensil is laid flat. A Nest of Mixing bowls and measuring spoons are funky, convenient
and space-saving.

Irish Wedding blessings
‘May the Sun shine warm upon your face ‘ is a lovely traditional Irish blessing meaning
meaning may there always be sunshine and happiness in your life as well as good,
calm weather! This blessing, as well as others, is now available in a contemporary
typographical print that can be placed on the wall and will look perfect in both traditional
and modern homes.

These wedding gift ideas are not only practical but they are also personal and will
demonstrate that the giver of these gifts thinks highly of the lucky recipients.

Wall Clock
Every family needs some picture Wall Clock hanging on the walls or putting on the
tables to know the time. Finding some Wall Clock in accordance with the taste of the
family is a practical way to show the family that you are really happy for their moving.
If you can find some photo of the family, you can frame the photos in the Wall Clock
before sending them the gift. It’s going to be a really sweet and thoughtful house warming
gift that touches the recipient’s heart.

Gift Baskets of Gourmet
You can choose a basket full of cookies, chocolates, fruits and cheeses, it’s appropriate
for every member of the moving family, people from young to old can all enjoy it. If
you think a gift basket is not creative and sincere enough, you can choose a special and
good-looking basket instead of the regular one, and at the same time you can change the
stuffing according to the unique taste of each and every member of the whole family.
After wrapping it exquisitely, the gift basket is a wonderful house warming gift that
expresses your love and heart loud and clear.

Flowers
Flowers seem to be the safest house warming gift, it’s elegant, can add more happy
atmosphere to the new house and at the same time a bunch of beautiful and eye-catching
flowers can reveal your good taste. When picking the category of flowers, it’s better to
buy potted flowers that can be raised at the balcony or the garden, it’s also important to
send perennial flowers that can remain years of vigor. If you send the flowers before the
house warming party started, the hosts can put it in the living room or dinner table for
sight viewing.

Barbecue and Grilling Tools
Having a barbecue party at backyard is many families’ favorite group activity, so sending
barbecue and grilling tools as house warming gift is just more than perfect. A set of
barbecue and grilling tools is practical and useful to the recipient, it may last for years,
and every time they use it they may think of you as a good friend.

Many people are personally fans of the gift card because they are easy to personalize. The basic gift idea of personalizing a gift card and turning it into a great gift requires a little ingenuity. A gift card to Starbucks is great for the coffee lover; but it would be much more fun for someone to receive it in his or her favorite colored mug, or perhaps with a chocolate covered spoon.

Gift certificates to a favorite clothing or shoe store can be another great gift idea. To personalize them, just pick up a pair of socks or a bracelet or anything small. It gives the recipient something to open and use now, plus the excitement of going to get more later on.

How about for the person with everything? It seems like every time one thinks of a gift idea, these people already have it. They simply require slightly more creativity and ingenuity than normal. A gift basket can often solve this problem. Just remember that consumable items are the most recommended. A wine and cheese basket is great for those with a taste for finer things. A “Movie Night” basket with popcorn, a Blockbuster gift card, some candy and soda goes over well for those with a sweet tooth. Another gift idea would be a backpack with trail mix, a first aid kit and a bandana for the avid outdoorsman. Focusing on the recipient’s interests can make gift idea possibilities really endless.

Once again, a great gift idea should reflect the one receiving the gift. A gift of obligation is always easy to spot. By personalizing a gift, you want the person you are giving a gift to know that you took the time to create a special gift for them. No matter how simple the gift idea is, a hand written note can add so much to the overall feeling of the gift. Anyone would definitely feel good receiving a gift that someone else took the time and effort with.

On the flip side, one who is giving the gift just needs to put in mind that it is for the other person. Thus, you must avoid buying a gift just because you would like to receive it. So many items are returned due to such uncreative instinct. Unless a specific request is heard, do not go out and buy someone a non-stick frying pan just because you love yours. Even if the recipient is a fond of cooking, one can never predict that a cooking item is the one they want or need

The traditional baby shower party is held well before the new born pops into the world. The party involves friends and family who enjoy lots of good food, drink and entertaining games and they all bring lots and lots of presents for the baby. The guests at the party traditionally are responsible for the baby shower gift ideas.

So what are the best baby shower gift ideas? The problem is that there are so many possibilities it is difficult to narrow it down to one gift. In that case buy two, and be generous. Something that has become popular over recent years is the baby shower gift basket. This is a good choice as it covers all the small essentials including, baby toiletries, baby bottles, bath items, towels, blankets, teething rings, soft toys etc. A baby shower gift basket is often considered to be an all inclusive gift because it includes such a range of items.

Another option, which some people think to be a bit boring, is to present the mother and baby with a baby savings bond. This is very much a long term gift carrying a lot of impact. Both mother and baby gain from this financial benefit, as it can be expected that the bond will grow over the years, just like the newborn.

Sometimes the mother will have her own list of items she would like to receive. This makes your life a lot easier as you are bound to get a gift that the mother wants. This is the easy way to select the perfect baby shower gift.

What about toys? Well for a newborn the toy should be simple such as a soft small bear or a crib mobile. For toddlers remember that safety is the most important thing. So avoid anything with sharp edges or small, loose parts. Also read the label on any toy to ensure that there are no toxic elements to be aware of.

Whether this is the first child or not could influence your decision on the type of gift to get. First time parents will appreciate information to help them with this daunting event. For example, magazine subscriptions, books or DVDs giving help and advice will go some way to giving reassurance to the parents to be.

If the mother doesn’t have her own list and you really cannot think of anything to get then the fall back position is to get a gift certificate. Don’t worry if this appears a bland choice. A gift certificate gives the mother a lot of flexibility to go buy any items she still needs after she has opened all the baby shower gifts at the party. Gift certificates come in many forms such as store certificates, professional house cleaning services, dry cleaning coupons or restaurant gift certificates. The list is almost endless. So there are many baby shower gift ideas to consider. Just spend a bit of time giving it some thought and you will come up with many ideas. It will then just be a case of choosing the best option.

Natural/Fresh Smell
Scented houseplants or freshly cut flowers like Hyacinth or Jasmine could make your home as sweet-smelling as a garden. Burners with Essential oil drops can be used as alternate. There are many scents for you to choose from (orange, lemon, vanilla, lavender, etc.) Using air freshener is ok but there’s a downside to it since it has chemicals and could possibly coat your nasal passages.

Lighting
Candles could be a great mood lighting source. For an increased lighting option range, you may want to fit in Dimmer Switches.

Positive Energy
To create a sense of energy and spaciousness, the middle of the room must be kept clear.

Good Circulation
Toxin concentration tends to build more inside the house as compared outside. Windows must be opened regularly for your home to be constantly well ventilated. This would also reduce the chance of catching cold or flu.

Colours
You must be able to change your cushion’s colour according to your mood.

Red – commonly associated with fire

Orange – great for meditation, transcendence and spirituality

Yellow - boosts optimism and is often associated with sunlight

Green - connects with nature and create a sense of harmony

Blue – convey tranquillity, freedom and openness

Indigo – reminds us of the depths of the ocean which adds a sense of mystery to a house interior

Violet - symbolizes “the inner eye” which is the spiritual vision center

An Aquarium
There are many people who feel soothed when they watch the aquarium’s silent world. If you cannot afford to get one, a simple bowl with just a few goldfish would suit just fine.

Landscape Paintings
Paintings bring out a wonderful openness to any room.

Clear out the clutter
Sort out cupboards, drawers and wardrobes. Any kind of rubbish which has accumulated should be thrown away. You need to be neat. Dishes must be put in the dishwasher, towels must be hung well and make it a point to regularly make the bed. For the house to stay tidy, always put everything in its right place.

Cleanliness
Make it a point to wipe counters off every day, even just for a few minutes. More time can be set for this during weekends. If you’re too busy to handle this, you can always hire a house cleaner if you can afford one.

For safety measures, you must make sure that you have your own smoke alarm. Regular test must be done for this.

Common Color Mistakes and Tips on How to Avoid Them:

1. Matching room color with favorite objects in the house
For your favorite piece of decoration to be noticed and to stand out, you need to opt for colors which are of the same shade but with softer hues. For example, instead of picking the exact color and shade of your favorite pillow, pick a shade of green which is more subtle and lighter. This way, the pillow’s color would really stand out.

2. Choosing cream or white because it’s the safe choice
Neutral colors like beige, gray and white also come in a lot of tones and shades. So, when you go to a paint store, it is advisable for you to make use of their oversize color chips or sample-size colors to aid you in making the perfect color selection. It’s best to choose just 3 or 4 colors which appeal to you. To see the effect of the colors on your house during daytime, brush a 2-foot square patch or tape samples of of oversize colors on each wall of your house. Observe the effect as the light changes. You surely won’t regret this extra effort.

3. Picking out too bright colors
For most interiors, colors which are bright or clear would be too strong. Kelly green or sunshine yellow is good for rooms which are quite sunny and very large. But for our spaces, most of us would need colors which would hide lacking features, complement with things we love, and blend well with the environment. For example, you have always wanted to have your very own red dining room. You need to get a color which is more subdued like raspberry mint or brick tone and stay away from crayon red.

4. Choosing colors which are very inappropriate for room space.
Warm colors have a tendency to make someone look great and feel good about themselves. For powder rooms and dining rooms, rusty gold, dusty warm plums and earthy reds would work beautifully. A person would tend to feel restful and calm as a response to cool colors. For living rooms and bedrooms, cheerful lavenders, natural greens and silver blues work best. Green color on bathroom walls could make someone appear sickly. Bright yellows in a bedroom could make someone feel anxious. With everything being said, it is important for you to carefully think of things you want accomplished in each room.

We will discuss in detail some of the special features of Asian style interior decoration that standout from other styles are

Colors: Colors are the most important part of Asian decorations. One can find shades of red, yellow or gold predominant in this style. Walls could be in plain single color but in many cases they are printed as well with motifs and pictures. The mood is usually very colorful.

Wooden furniture: Wood is widely used for furniture, doors and windows, for flooring, for wardrobes as well as for constructing houses. Most commonly used woods are rosewood and teakwood.

Wall Decors: Decorative items mainly depict the historical eras and they are in the form of wall paintings and art prints. Primitive culture is preserved by means of interior decoration in homes and offices as well. A wall clock is must for interior.

Plants: Plants find space in every interior. As Asians are nature lovers, plants are a must everywhere. Though most of the plants are for decorative purpose only, few plants are considered auspicious and are present in every home. Whether its basil for India or bonsai for Japanese, they are all kept following the culture for religion and good luck.

Furnishing: Jacquard furnishings are a specialty of Asian style decorations. Whether it’s a bedspread or curtain – jacquard furnishings adore the inner beauty of all homes. Use of rich fabrics is always prevalent. The colors are mostly vibrant which goes well with wooden furniture.

Water bodies: Water bodies like a small fountain with running water or an aquarium or a bowl full of water with fish at the door step is considered auspicious in feng shui. The whispering sound of running water aids in peace of mind, body and soul. Water animals like fish and turtles are also a part of interiors.

The cultural diversity of Asia makes Asian style of interior decoration unique. This style is derived from the rich cultural heritage and is followed religiously or superstitiously. But whatever the case maybe, the aim is to achieve harmony in life through peace.

The Colour Wheel

A circle of colour which is traditional in the art field is based on blue, yellow and red. In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton created the first ever circular colour diagram. Since then, artists and scientists have designed and studied a number of variations based on this concept. Debate is still continuously provoked regarding opinion differences regarding the validity of a certain format over the other. But in reality, any colour wheel or colour circle which demonstrates colour combination sequence of pure hues which are logically arranged has merit.

Primary Colours

Blue, yellow and red: These 3 basic colours cannot be formed or mixed by any other colour combination based on the theory of traditional colours. All colours available are created from these three basic hues.

Secondary Colour

Purple, orange and green: By mixing primary colours, these colours are formed.

Tertiary Colours

Red orange, yellow-green, blue-green, red-purple, blue-purple, and yellow-orange: These colours are the outcome if a secondary colour is mixed with primary colour. This is also the reason why two-word names are given to the hues, like yellow-orange, red-violet, and blue-green.

Colour Harmony

The pleasant arrangement of parts is one of the definitions of harmony, whether it’s colour, poetry or music.

With regards to visual experiences, harmony is defined as something which appears pleasing to the human eye, something which interests the viewer. Anything which isn’t harmonious is either chaotic or boring. Visual tasks require us to present a structure which is logical. Thus, colour harmony should be able to deliver a sense of order and visual interest.

To summarize everything, under-stimulation is the effect of extreme unity; over-stimulation is the result of extreme complexity. The dynamic equilibrium of everything is harmony.

A Few Colour Harmony Formulas

Harmony has a few theories. Here are a few descriptions for some basic formula.

A colour scheme based on analogous colours
Analogous colours are defined as any 3 colours on a 12-part colour wheel which can be found side by side, like yellow-orange, yellow and yellow-green. A single colour usually pre-dominates the three colours.

Scheme based on complementary colours
Any 2 colours directly found opposite each other are known as complementary colours (yellow-green, red-purple, green and red). These opposing colours make maximum stability and maximum contrast.

Colour scheme inspired from nature
Nature serves as a perfect inspiration when it comes to colour harmony and colour selection. Green, yellow and red creates quite a harmonious design heedless of whether the combination meets the colour harmony’s technical formula.

Colour Context

How a certain colour acts in relation to certain shapes or colour is quite a complex colour theory area. The starting point to understanding colour relativity is to observe the effects that colour towards each other. The relationship of coolness or warmth, saturation and values of various hues can have quite a noticeable difference in a person’s colour perception.

For modern home décor, the colors in these silk-screened canvases include vibrant colors of red, turquoise, fuchsia, orange, yellow, and green that is harmonizing in so many settings. Walking into a room, these paintings are purely outstanding. They command attention and admiration – they immediately evoke a myriad of feelings, opinions, and impressions.

The color choice conveys diverse moods and emotions affecting each person who views the art. Warhol doesn’t try to make them lifelike, using mostly artificial colors, which are fresh and vigorous – the objective is to summon a reaction. The results resonate the myth and the beauty of Marilyn Monroe, they bring her back to life, and people recall the marvel of this fascinating woman.

With millions of photographs of Ms. Monroe, artists today can still paint their own special touches that this genre of art inspires, and these are wonderful additions to the contemporary room.

Whether the wall painting is used above a sofa in a living room, over the bed, by a desk, or in a dining room, it is sure to enhance the décor of the room. Marilyn Monroe paintings greatly enhance the modern décor, and if the owner is looking for piece of art to spark conversation, these paintings will ignite many discussions for years to come.

Involve your child: After all you are going to design his/her bed room. So take his opinion before you get started. A boy and a girl will have different tastes. So seeking his/her opinion will be a great way to get started.

Fix a budget: Children are very demanding. And when it comes to renovating their private space they are choosier than ever. Set yourself a budget and explain your child that everything has to be accommodated within that. But surely you can cross your limits and surprise them by getting something of their choice.

Colors: Boys may like blue or a combination of two to three shades of blue can make the walls interesting. Pink or purple is always a favorite among girls. So a pink wall with their favorite cartoon characters on them can be very attractive. On the other hand orange mixed with shades of red would also look good. However, adding some cool wall decors would enhance the look.

Wall painting: Let your child’s favorite sport or comic character or any other special interest come alive through art prints on bedroom walls. Let him indulge in some big posters of his favorite movie star or rock star or a sportsman. You can also paint a rainbow on one of the walls.

Teen Furniture: Get a gender specific cot for your teen, a bean bag for his friends and not to forget a study table. After all studying is as important as other activities. A full size mirror, a bigger wardrobe and a table lamp could adorn his room.

Wall decors: Give them a wall clock and teach them the importance of time and how to respect it. Other wall decors could be their favorite toy or doll hanging or a basket ball net will be cool for them.

Few lines to remember: Let them stencil their favorite quotes which inspire them all the time. A couple of words on the door to welcome friends or something like a name plate “ my paradise” or “my world “ could sound cool for them.

Photographs: Family Photographs and your child’s baby pictures can adorn the walls. But take their permission before you put their baby diaper pictures. They may not like them once they are grown up. A picture from his or her latest holiday could be a better idea. He may feel proud to flaunt them before his or her friends.