Archive for the ‘Art and Home Accessories’ Category
Interior Decorating With Mirrors
Mirrors in the bathroom and bedroom are so common and functional that most people probably don’t even consider them decorative. However, mirrors can also enhance the decor of any room.
Large mirrors can be extremely heavy; install them with care. Choose heavy-duty hardware and use wall anchors if you cannot nail your hanger directly into a wall stud. Apply unframed mirrors directly to a wall with a strong adhesive.
1. Place a footed table mirror behind special collectibles to highlight them. The sparkle from the mirror will draw attention to the object and allow people to see both sides of the item without picking it up.
2. Situate a mirror so that it catches the natural light from a window; it will bounce the light back into the room. Place another mirror across from the first, and the light will ricochet around the room. This is an especially useful interior decorating tip in rooms with limited natural light.
3. Position a mirror so that it catches an attractive view to bring the outdoors in. The effect will be somewhat like a framed landscape painting. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Make Indoor Water Features
The sound of trickling water is soothing and extremely beneficial to you. There is something about hearing water that creates a calming effect and an overall improved atmosphere.
Many people have water features outside of their homes, but you can also make indoor water features if you know how.
It is not as complicated as you may think to accomplish this. Once you have indoor water features, you will have an enhanced indoor environment. The steps provided will assist in achieving this. Read on to learn how to make indoor water features.
1. Select the right bowl or container. Make sure the bowl (or large container) is: totally waterproof, level on the bottom, high enough to cover the pump completely with water, wide enough on the bottom for both the pump and the primary tubing bend and also matches the interior decoration of the area and the water feature itself. You do not want the bowl to stand out from the water feature, but to blend into it and be a naturally looking part of it.
2. Protect your water pump. Once the water pump is placed in the container it needs to be sheltered and hidden from view. You can purchase covers for most water pumps or you can use your imagination to construct your own. Try different sized containers by placing them over the water pump. You can make holes or slits in them for the tubing and power cord. Read the rest of this entry »
How to Build Indoor Water Features
Indoor water features contribute to the serenity of any room in your home. You can build indoor water features with materials normally reserved for the garden, such as a planter or urn, as the water basin.
Build a small water feature to decorate a table top, or a free-standing water feature to decorate the corner of the room. The basic components are the same, the differences lie in the size of the materials.
Free-Standing Water Feature
1. Select a large urn to suit your indoor decor. Position the urn inside your home near a power outlet.
2. Stack bricks inside the urn to build up a platform for the submersible water fountain pump.
3. Attach the fountainhead to the fountain pump. Place the fountain pump on top of the bricks inside the urn. Extend the fountainhead to just beneath the urn’s rim. Drape the pump’s power cord over the side of the urn near the power outlet. You could also drill a hole near the top of the urn, above the water line and insert the power cord through the hole.
4. Fill the urn with water to the top of the fountainhead. Start the pump. Water will gurgle at the top of the water feature. If you have a wide-mouth urn and prefer a water spray, fill the urn half full and extend the fountainhead above the water line.
Small Tabletop Water Feature
1. Place a small fountain pump inside a dish garden. Drape the power cord over the side of the dish garden.
2. Attach the fountainhead to the pump spout. Extend it slightly. Cover the pump with decorative stones. Fill the dish garden with
3. Turn on the pump. The water spray should fall back into the dish garden. Adjust the fountainhead as needed to reduce or increase the spray.