Another different type of lap tray is the breakfast tray. It’s mini legs stand up nicely over your body, perfect for a great breakfast in bed. What mother doesn’t want to be woken up to a wonderful breakfast-in-bed on Mothers Day, served on her breakfast lap tray. Some trays are even equipped with a place for a cup and silverware so there will be no spills while you enjoy.

The trays can be used for work purposes as well. They’re great for kid’s to do their homework on without having to buy them a whole desk. For younger ones they can use them as the perfect, flat surface for coloring. And you can use them as well. Does your laptop ever heat up to an uncomfortable warmth against your body? A lap tray can be just the thing to absorb the heat, and give you a flatter surface to work off of. This is all while working at the place in the house where you prefer because a lap tray can be brought anywhere.

Lap trays are available all over the internet as well as in most home stores. Levenger is one online store that has some nice lap trays for personal computers and writing desks. Trays come in a variety of styles, color, even materials. Plastic and wooden are the materials that are most popular these days. For kids, plastic lap trays are great to wipe up any mess easily. They even come in fun colors or with cartoons designed on them! Legs are an option as well as pockets, and small storage compartments for pens, etc. The prices range from around $5 all the way up to $25+ depending on the type. A few lap trays are great buys for a family and will never go unused!

Murals and vinyl decals are great ways to spruce up a room. Suddenly their favorite Disney’s characters can come to life on their walls. Painted wall murals are great ideas for artistic parents. What child wouldn’t want a hand-painted wall of all their favorite characters made by mommy and daddy? But for those of us who are not as gifted with a paint brush, there are vinyl options for kids wall decor. These kids wall stickers can be bought online with virtually anything your child could want on them. Also, there are now vinyl borders for the top and bottom of the room. A great bonus of decals is that they come off quite easily and don’t leave marks because they go on without glue. So as quickly as children change their minds, so can their walls!

Another unique idea for kids wall decor is to have them help out with some of the creativity themselves. Be warned this could get a little messy. Start off by putting blackboard or even whiteboard material over a part of the wall. It works best in an easy to reach space for the child, near the bottom of the wall. Give them chalk or markers and they can decorate however they want. Chalkboards and whitboards can be easily erased so they can redecorate whenever they change their mind.

After the walls have been decorated to the child’s delight, wall shelves and storage options can become great places to hold their keepsakes, trophies, and more without being cluttered. Kids will look up at their shelves and remember great memories. Buy shelves in bright colors and fun shapes that match the theme of the room or better yet make them yourselves. After the storage shelves are completed and put up, make sure there are a few open spots. They’ll be for the future memories and keepsakes to come!

The modern kitchen, very popular today with sleek, stainless steel appliances, could benefit from having an interesting kitchen clock. One idea for this type of kitchen is a digital clock. Although digital kitchen clocks are not very common, they would greatly complement modern decor and add interest. Digital clocks are not for everybody, however. Another great idea for a modern kitchen clock are those made out of different materials such as glass, metal, or plastic. Using clean-cut geometric shapes would build upon the modern look of the room.

For a more traditional kitchen, or a kitchen you want to feel homey, very different clocks from the above are suggested. Clocks with pretty or cute designs on them are great for this type of kitchen – to brighten up the room and put a smile on everyone’s face. Good examples are a clock with flowers, or a clock that goes with the theme of the room if there is one. Some people may even like an antique kitchen clock. Custom designing a clock to fit your own family is another idea worth looking into for a homey, family-oriented feel.

For the funky, creative type kitchen, obviously a funky clock is needed as well. To create a neat effect, decorate an otherwise bare wall with nothing but a big, bold clock. This will draw all attention to the clock and add a lot of interest to the room! Retro kitchen clocks, clocks with funny sayings, and all types of different colored and shaped clocks will work well for this kitchen. Also many clocks make funny noises that chime on the hour such as bird sounds. This would set your kitchen clock apart from any other. After you decide which kitchen type you are, use these tips to go out there and get a kitchen clock that stands out a bit!

While they can look great in any room; bathrooms especially have become popular spots for mosaic mirrors. Mosaic art can immediately make a bathroom mirror stand out from the wall. This works even more effectively when the wall and mosaic mirror are contrasting colors. For example a purple-based mosaic might look great against yellow wall. This gives the bathroom an added bright and creative flair. For decorating with mosaic mirrors in other rooms of the house this advice should also be followed. Full length mirrors would look great in bedrooms; while small, knick-knack like mirrors would be pretty in a kitchen. Mosaic mirrors work especially well in rooms that are small; because the reflection they create makes the room appear larger than it is in reality.

A mosaic mirror can be bought quite easily today, at a range of prices. Popular options from buyers include both glass mosaic mirrors and round mosaic mirrors. But the options in medium and shape are endless. Also, for the more artistic person, mosaic mirrors can be made. Several websites have detailed instructions for making mirrors with glass mosaic tiles. This gives the decorator an opportunity to add their own individuality to their mirror; to make it one of a kind. When you decide on getting a mosaic mirror make sure you weigh out the two options, making or buying! The choice can be difficult. While making will save money, buying would ensure a successful product. On the other side, making would give you the ability to do whatever you wanted as far as colors or patterns are concerned.

These mirrors are so popular because they truly are different. You commonly won’t see the same mosaic mirror twice! Not only do they look nice, they can serve as conversation starters as well. People will ask if you made them, or where you got them, and how they can get their own. And once you start, you may quickly notice your family and friends also putting up mosaic mirrors in their homes.

A tall, square glass vase can sit on the floor or on a bookshelf or mantle, depending on its size. Long stemmed flowers, branches or bamboo stalks would all work well in such a vase. If you are planning on using any large glass vase as floor vases, make sure that it is weighted down enough to prevent tipping over. Consideration of children and pets is always wise when planning the placement of fragile decorative pieces such as a large vase.

A shorter square vase works nicely as a centerpiece and can be filled with flowers and many other items as well. If your vase is clear, you could fill it with pretty stones, seashells or other small objects. A small candle sitting in some sand with small beachy items makes a nice centerpiece with a nautical flair. Even when you are using fresh flowers in a glass vase, it is always nice to use some stones or glass marbles for decoration as well. For more interesting ideas on filling square vases, look through home decorating magazines and check out stores such as Pottery Barn, where vases are always on display.

Consider using a set of different sized square vases to form an attractive display on a table or shelf. The vases could be similar in style and color, or just have the square shape in common. Vases that are interesting on their own often do not need to be filled with anything. Square vases are a simple, yet sophisticated decorative piece that can add some class to any room in your home.

If you are planning a wedding in the near future, keep square glass vases in mind for those centerpieces as well. They can be the starting point for many simple, but elegant flower arrangements that would fit in with the theme of many contemporary wedding receptions. So you can see just how versatile square vases are – pick up one or two today and enjoy!

Most parents jump right into the whole baby nursery decor craze as they excitedly plan for their first child. When choosing baby room decorations, it’s a good idea to plan ahead just a little so that the time you spend painting and decorating will be appropriate for at least a couple years. You may want to select a neutral wall color and bring in your theme in different accessories such as curtains and crib bedding, etc. This will make it easier to update the baby room decor as your child becomes a toddler and begins to develop his or her unique tastes and interests.

As your child’s personality emerges, so will their likes and dislikes. They will become interested in different activities and subjects that you could for a decorating theme. This is the age when some kids become enthralled with pirates or princesses, animals or a favorite Disney character. Let your child contribute to the design of their changing room, keeping in mind that their interests at this age may be short-lived. Removable kid’s wall stickers are a great way to decorate around a theme that may be outdated in a couple of years. Today you can find kid’s wall art that includes everything from their favorite cartoon characters to huge kid’s murals with scenes of under the sea and outer space.

It is never too early to begin teaching your child to pick up their room, so make sure that there is a spot for all of their toys and books so they can easily clean up after they are done playing. The trick to an organized room for young children is to not have too many toys in the room at one time. Many parents find that storing a few toys or books and rotating them keeps the room more organized. It’s always fun to bring out some “new” things to play with once in a while.

School age kids usually begin to want to personalize their rooms to reflect their growing interests, favorite colors, etc. They may want to change the whole theme of their room, to something more “grown up” than what they had as a toddler. Some of the best kids decor at this age are the child’s own works of art – drawings or art projects that have come home from school. Photos of your child with friends and family provide them with reminders of fun times at camp or on family vacation. Along with posters of their favorite sports figures, why not blow up a photo of your child playing their favorite sport? Kids wall art at this age can also represent their dreams for the future – places they want to go or hero’s they want to emulate.

Pre-teens and teenagers will have a lot to say about how their room should look. There are some great ideas for kid’s room decor for this age group in catalogs such as PB Teen. Some of the kid’s bedroom furniture and decorative accessories are pretty pricey, but these magazines can give you some great ideas to get the creative juices flowing. Sometimes you can find similar items to the Pottery Barn version at discount stores at a fraction of the cost. If you enjoy crafts, you can also make some of the girl’s room decor pieces such as lampshades and bulletin boards.

With a little work, you and your child can create a wonderful room that provides a haven for relaxation and rest and will hopefully be one of their favorite places to enjoy being a child.

Standing coat racks have been around for a long time and have had a rich history of both functionality and traditional beauty. Back when most homes were built without closets, the front hall coat rack was a permanent fixture. Coats, hats and umbrellas needed a home and the coat rack was there to provide it. Many of the standing coat racks that we see today are modeled after the ones from the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Wood and metal are the two most common materials used to make a standing coat rack. Traditional coat racks of oak, cherry or mahogany often have brass hooks and may include an umbrella stand at the base. Metal coat racks include polished chrome, brass, wrought iron and more. The range of styles is huge, as you browse through elegant wrought iron stands with intricate scroll work to brushed metal design that would look at home in a modern bathroom.

The usefulness of the coat rack stand is amazing. They can typically hold up to a dozen coats as well as hats and scarves, etc. the stands can be moved wherever you need them and even designated to a different room as your household’s needs change. And coat racks are not just for the hallway anymore. Keep one in the kitchen to hold your aprons and kitchen towels, etc. Or how about in your teenager’s room where getting clothes onto hangers isn’t an option. They are perfect for a small apartment or a house at the lake or the beach with limited storage. A coat rack umbrella stand is often useful in an office as well, to keep coats, umbrellas and brief cases organized.

There are just a couple important features to look for when shopping for a free standing coat rack. Most importantly, the coat rack needs to be stable. Having a wobbly coat stand that may fall over defeats the whole purpose. Good quality stands will be weighted at the bottom in some manner. A protective finish on the coat stand is also important to its longevity. Since wet coats could be hung up from time to time, you do not want any issues with unprotected wood or rusty metal.

So take a look around and find yourself an interesting standing coat rack to call your own. If you need a place to hang a few coats, it may be just what you need.

There are several different types of wooden plates racks to choose from, depending upon the type of space that you have in your kitchen. Very simple plate racks consisting of just a frame with vertical dowels are available for under $10.00 at discount stores and even places like Crate and Barrel. These plate racks can be placed inside a cabinet or on the counter in you have room to spare.

If you are looking for a wooden plate rack for purely functional purposes, such as to hold dishes as they dry, opt for one of the very sturdy plate racks that holds quite a few dishes and then folds up when not in use. These racks have been around for many years and are still one of the best ways to dry your dished if you prefer not to use the dishwasher. If you end up getting one that you love the look of, you may find yourself just leaving in on the counter.

For those looking for a wooden plate rack mainly for display purposes, you have many styles to choose from. Pine, cherry and oak are a few of the types of wood you can look at. You may want to tie in the type of wood to some other accent pieces in your kitchen. Back in the 1980s, the lighter, more natural finishes were the modern style, but in today’s world, anything goes. Very contemporary kitchens with sleek appliances and counters often include dark wood cabinets. So feel free to select any plate rack that appeals to you and that seems to go with the style you have.

The three most common types of wooden plate racks are the type that sit on the counter, the ones that go in a cabinet and the racks that hang on a wall. Decide where you have room to add a plate rack and go from there. If you want to add a rack to an existing cabinet, you could take measurements and buy a stand alone unit, or hire a carpenter to make a built-in cabinet. Either way, you will enjoy the beauty and the order that these cabinet plate racks provide.

A wooden plate rack shelf that hangs on the wall is a very practical way to display decorative plates. You are adding beauty to the room, filling up a blank spot on the wall and storing plates at the same time. Some wall plates racks hold just a few plates while other, larger racks can hold an entire set of plates. Again, these wall plate racks come in many styles and are available in natural wood finishes or even painted wood. Painting a kitchen plate rack to get the color you want is also an option to consider.

Finally, for those who are handy or have a handy person available, there is always the option of creating your own wooden plate rack. With a little creativity and effort, you may end up with exactly the plate rack you were dreaming of.

While many people rely on cell phones and wrist watches to check the time during the day, it is convenient to have several large clocks around our homes so that we can check the time quickly when we need to. And since we are hanging up these timekeepers, let’s make them decorative as well. Here’s take a look at the different types of clocks we can choose for our homes.

Large wall clocks make a lot of sense because you really want to be able to see the numbers and the time from across the room. There are all sorts of large wall clocks available in a wide range of decor styles. If you come across one that you love, make it the focal point of the wall by centering it without any other items around it. Or, use it as part of a grouping of decorative pieces for an artistic look.

Antique large clocks can work beautifully in a room with traditional or an eclectic style of decor. While clock-making has been a precision craft for centuries, you may want to make sure that an older clock is still keeping time correctly. If not, it is not difficult to find a good repair shop to update or fix and older clock that you really like. Many shops and online retailers also create wonderful reproductions of antique clocks.

Pendulum wall clocks are still very popular even though the technology of keeping time has raced ahead with the advent of electric and digital clocks. Still, there is something soothing and relaxing about the swinging of the pendulum and the quiet ticking of the pendulum wall clock that makes these clocks a favorite of many people, even today.

Digital wall clocks are becoming more popular as clock makers perfect the art making digital numbers more appealing. It always amuses me that my teenagers have to stare at analog clock for a bit before they can process what time it is. And add in Roman numerals and the difficulty compounds. Alas, we are firmly in the digital age and someday soon we may have a digital wall clock that looks as attractive as the “old fashioned” kind.

Modern wall clocks. Any of these large clocks would work well in a living room, dining room or den. But what about the kitchen, where some of us spend most of our time? Many stoves have a digital clock built in, but it is nice to have a large clock on the wall, to be able to glance at whenever necessary. If you have a modern kitchen, you can find a great kitchen clock that will look sophisticated, or a homey type of clock shaped like a coffee mug or other cute design. There are hundreds of large kitchen clocks to choose from, since most people love to have one in this area of their home.

Large clocks are an excellent way to decorate our walls and yet another opportunity to express ourselves while decorating our home. Take advantage of all of the wonderful timepieces available and carry on this 5000 year fascination we have with clocks.

Chandeliers can add both drama and warmth to a room. They can be a gentle source of diffused light that contrasts with some of the other more harsh types of light we might have in our homes already. Small chandeliers can be a beautiful accent piece and finish off the décor of the room that it is placed in. While a small or “mini” chandelier might not be the primary light source in a room, it can certainly add light to a section of the space and contribute to the overall ambiance of the room.

A small chandelier is perfect for bedrooms, bathrooms, stairways, small foyers or even over a kitchen table. If the chandelier is approximately 12-15 inches in diameter, it will typically illuminate about a 10′ x 10′ foot area. This number will change depending upon the number of lights and total wattage of the fixture that you select. If possible, add a dimmer switch to the chandelier to make low lighting another option.

As with larger chandeliers, there are many different styles of small chandeliers. Look for wrought iron or crystal chandeliers for a traditional look. Small crystal chandeliers would also be a nice contrast to a modern dining room table, creating visual interest and softening the straight lines of a contemporary piece of furniture.

If antiques are your thing, find a Tiffany style chandelier with stained glass fixtures that are a throwback to 19th century designs. Or look for a small Victorian reproduction to provide some old world charm along with soft light for the room. There are actually small chandeliers for every decorating style imaginable. Don’t be afraid to bring in a different style to a room as well. Just because you have room with some contemporary pieces doesn’t mean you can’t add that lovely crystal chandelier that you find.

The other great thing about going with a small chandelier is that you don’t have to spend quite as much money to add a beautiful accent piece that also serves the practical purpose of providing light. If you happen to have a small chandelier that just needs an update, you can buy small chandelier shades in lighting stores and online and give the fixture a whole new look. Take a look at small chandeliers the next time you need a new light fixture and you may find a great lighting solution.