Friday, July 3, 2009

Home Decor Trends - Country & shabby cottage Signs!

Decorating with signs is easy and fun! It's a great way to showcase your personality in your home decor! It doesn't matter what style you have your home decorated in or what colors your rooms are. A correctly placed sign will add fun, whimsy and in some cases, even romance, to your home's atmosphere!

Every room needs a sign and I can promise you that there is a sign out there to fit every personality! Colors and styles are not a problem. You can find signs in rustic country primitive, distressed wood styles, which come in dark, tea stained colors. Or, if you prefer light and airy pastels, more suited to a French country cottage or the shabby chic style of decorating, you can find that too. And kids absolutely love bright colors in their rooms. Trendy colors for little girls rooms are hot pink, lime green, turquoise and purple. Bright orange has become popular too and you might not think of it, but bright orange looks great when paired with turquoise! Blue and orange are what's called "complimentary colors", and though they seem opposite, they work great together! Bright orange also looks great with hot pink! It's definitely eye-popping, but fun! Colors for little boys' rooms are a little more traditional, usually with reds, blues and greens being the most popular. But again, it depends on the personalities involved. When choosing home decor signs, think about the interests of the person, then choose your colors and sayings from there.

Now that we've discussed colors, let's get to the sayings. There are literally thousands of sayings to choose from. And if you just can't find something you love that reflects who you are, then you can always have a sign custom made with your own personal saying.

Let's start with the Living Room. One great idea is to hang a sign that says, "Home is where our story begins", "And They Lived Happily Ever After" or "All of This Because Two People Fell In Love" and surround it with pictures of your family. Cluster the pictures in groups around the sign. Hanging frames of different sizes, colors and textures in an irregular pattern gives you a cozy, folk-y, country clutter look that you might find in an old farmhouse. Hanging family pictures in sleek, slim lined frames, all of the same size, and in straight lines & angles, to form a square or rectangle, gives you a modern, edgy flair.

For a patriotic theme, try a sign that says, "God, Family, Country" and cluster some barn stars and a flag banner around it. Keep all the colors of your decorations in red, white & blue, or if decorating truly country primitive, keep them Burgundy, Cream & Navy Blue!

Some other popular sign sayings for a country living room are, "The Olde Farmhouse", "The Keeping Room", "The Gathering Room", "Country Blessings", "Home, Heart, Hearth", "Love, Laughter & Friends Always Welcome Here" or "Live, Laugh, Love", just to name a few.

But the kitchen is the center of a home. And there's so much unused space to decorate! The wall space above the kitchen cabinets, for example, is a great place to hang a sign. Also, above a door or even on the backsplash area. "Farm Fresh Eggs" and "Country Kitchen" are all-time favorites. But don't forget signs like "Bistro" or "Cafe" for a European flair! And funny signs about wine or drinking are all the rage right now. "Life's too short to drink cheap wine!" is always a hit. So are "It's 5:00 Somewhere!" and "One Martini, Two Martini, Three Martini, FLOOR!" And don't forget the dining room. Some perfect sayings for enjoying a good meal are, "Celebrate Friends, Family, Traditions" and "Eat, Drink & Be Merry".

The idea is to make family and friends feel welcome and relaxed in your home and let them know you treasure the time you spend with them. And since most get togethers are done over food, and spent hanging out in the living room, dining room and kitchen, these are the perfect places to decorate and have fun.

But speaking of treasured time with loved ones, don't forget to let your family know how you feel about them too. A popular idea is to hang the sign, "Always Kiss Me Goodnight" over a bed. There are cute ones for hanging over children's beds. And there are pretty pastels in pinks, sage greens and light blues for a baby's nursery. This sign makes a great baby shower gift too! But there are also larger signs with this saying on it, in a more scripty letter style, that you can hang over the bed in the master suite, that will add a romantic style to the room. Again, pair this with your wedding portrait on the wall above your bed and you will have the most romantic bedroom in town! And speaking of romance, "Always Kiss Me Goodbye" is the perfect sign for hanging over the front door.

If you're a parent, funny signs placed strategically around the home, can be a definite mood enhancer for a stressed out mom! "Because I'm The Mommy, That's Why!" is a great one. Plus "Time-Out Area", "Cursing is Prohibited" and "If Mama Ain't Happy, Ain't Nobody Happy!" are always a hit. And don't forget the classic, "You have two choices for dinner - take it or leave it!"

Finally, don't forget the bathroom and the laundry room. "Outhouse" is a funny and popular sign for the country primitive bathroom. Old fashioned signs such as "Washroom", "Hot Bath 25¢" and "Country Bath" are a must have for a country cottage decor style bathroom. "Laundry" or "Laundry Room - Drop Your Drawers Here" are good choices for the laundry room. They turn a mundane chore into a colorful, funny and home-y area.

It's amazing how all of these signs magically turn a house into a home. Home decor items like these have a comforting quality. They make us feel like we did when we were little and visiting grandma's house. And there's not a better feeling in the world than being warm, cozy and comfortable in your own home. And you know you've done your job when your guests feel that way too, even though they're only visiting. And when your guests are relaxed, you can relax! Life is about enjoying the simple things, the happy quiet times with family and friends. And believe it or not, adding some decorative signs to your home can remind you on a daily basis to do just that.

I'll leave you with a couple of my personal favorite sign sayings, "Simplify" and "Live Well, Laugh Often, Love Much".

All of the signs mentioned above are available at www.outerbankscountrystore.com

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